Together with Father Christian Marte SJ (Director of the Kardinal König Haus in Vienna), this Holy Week (April 11th – 13th, 2017) I visited the Republic of Moldova. We wanted to get to know the country and the different CONCORDIA institutions. CONCORDIA is the biggest nongovernmental organization in the former Soviet Republic of Moldova. 300 employees take care of almost 6.000 children, adolescents and elder people.

During those three days we visited two social centres for elderly people and a new family-like institution, where children and adolescents that used to live in the city of children „Pirita“ have found a new home. Close to the regional capital of Orhei we  had a look at a plot of  land of 350 hectares, where in 2017, CONCORDIA will start a model farm on which adolescents from CONCORDIA institutions will be able to find work.

Catholic bishop

On the second day of our visit we met with the catholic bishop Anton Cosa, who helped in establishing CONCORDIA Social Projects in 2004. He has stayed close to the project ever since and helps wherever he can. In the evening we were invited to the Austrian Embassy, recently opened in February 2017. In our talk with the ambassador we discussed the economic, political and social situation of the country. One great challenge is growing emigration. Every single day, 107 people leave Moldova to look for work in Europe or Russia. At the end of an interesting day, we celebrated mass in the chapel of the Casa CONDORDIA with some of the children and employees.

After receiving the news of our planned visit, the country coordinator of CONCORDIA had asked us if we could offer some workshops for senior employees. So, for two mornings and one afternoon, Christian and I held workshops on the topics of spirituality and leadership, with an overall attendance of 60 educators, psychologists and administrators that work for CONCORDIA. The feedback we received was very positive.

Holy Week

Our experiences in those three days fit perfectly into the Holy Week. The German word for it, Karwoche, originates from the word Kara, which means „lamentation, sorrow, worry“, and is also related to the English word care. Throughout our visit we were able to meet people that live in great poverty, and on the other hand people that try to alleviate other's hardship. Both groups appreciate any sign letting them know that they are not forgotten and that their commitment is valued.