Founded in 2000, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Romania celebrated its 18th anniversary in a new residence. “After two years of intense work, where we have experienced that if the Lord does not build the house, the builders struggle in vain”, Fr. Marius Talos SJ explains, “the new headquarters of the Pedro Arrupe Centre in Bucharest officially opened its doors on Thursday 21 June, feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga”.

Among those present were Fr. José Ignacio Garcia, Director of JRS Europe and Fr. Michael Bugeja, EUM delegate for Malta and the Romanian Mission. The Celebration was presided by Mgr. Miguel Maury Buendia, Apostolic Nuncio of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, imparting on this occasion the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father to the Jesuits present on the territory, to all members of JRS Romania and to all the benefactors of this work founded for the well-being of migrants and refugees.

“There are three guidelines that will sustain its development”, Fr. Talos emphasizes: “the apostolic collaboration between the Jesuits and the JRS lay professional members, the opening of the centre to both Romanians and people of other nationalities and the expression of a combined social and formative dimension which is a distinctive characteristic in today’s actuality”.