Project No. 18/2025:
Purchase of a Minibus for the Bread for the Poor Association
in Bucharest (Romania)
The Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania, of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, proposed Social-Charitable Project No. 18/2025, entitled “Purchase of a Minibus for the Bread for the Poor Association,” aimed at supporting and improving daily service to the homeless and severely marginalized in the city of Bucharest, Romania.
The project is part of the Conventual Franciscan presence in the capital of Romania, which began in 2014 and is characterized by an ongoing commitment to the most vulnerable. There are approximately 5,000 homeless people living on the streets of Bucharest. The friars are in daily contact with them, providing food, clothing, basic care, and human and spiritual support. Their service includes a “social shower” program, available three times a week, and the “Franciscan Scout” social-educational initiative, which involves forty-six children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and is aimed at promoting their integration and growth.
The main difficulty in carrying out these activities is the lack of adequate transportation. The friars are forced to use public transportation to deliver food and supplies, causing considerable inconvenience. Moreover the friars have serious difficulty reaching those with mobility issues who are unable to travel to the friary on their own.
Thus, the purchase of a minibus is a real necessity in order to improve the efficiency of the friars’ service, facilitate travel, and ensure a more widespread presence among the “Brothers of the Street.”
The project was planned for rapid completion, estimated at one month, and was entrusted to the direct responsibility of Friar Sergiu ANTAL, under the supervision of the Minister Provincial, Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU.
This initiative has already significantly impacted the friar community, making their daily service more sustainable. It has also impacted the people they assist, who can now receive more timely and dignified assistance.
The friars express their sincere gratitude for the support received, a concrete sign of solidarity with the poorest.
Project Information
- Conventual Franciscan Jurisdiction: Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania
- Country: Romania
- Location: Bucharest
- Type of Project: Social-charitable project
- Date of Proposal: March 8, 2025
- Direct Project Coordinator: Friar Sergiu ANTAL
- Total Project Cost: €27,000.00
- Local Contributions:
- €2,000.00
- Contribution from Caritas Antoniana:
- €25,000.00
- Funding Status:
- The project is already fully funded and implemented.
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