A new daily centre for children operates within the Archdiocese of Bucharest. “Saint Martyr Sofia” Centre within the Social Philanthropic Settlement of Scaune parish of deanery III of Capital was consecrated today, 11 February 2012, by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

After the consecration service, worthiness distinctions have been awarded for those who got involved in the setting up of this social centre. The Patriarch of Romania has also offered Saint Martyr Centre an icon of Saint Sofia with her three daughters Elpis, Pistis and Agapis and a big size Bible. The children have also received an issue of “Call of the Faith” magazine of the Romanian Patriarchate for children, and the book “Children Understanding the Symbol of Faith”.

To end with, the Patriarch of Romania congratulated all those who contributed to the organisation of this daily centre emphasising the need to intensify Christian love in the family, society and school as well as the importance of Christian education.

“The daily centre for the children of the Church, of the Archdiocese of Bucharest and of Scaune parish means home school, namely the Church is our spiritual home, the bigger spiritual family who helps the conjugal family, who brings the blessing of God.

We badly need to intensify love in the family, the love of the parents for children and of the children for parents, in the school the love of the pupils for their teachers, for the staff who continue the education of the family ever since the kindergarten”, also said the Patriarch of Romania.

His Beatitude has also spoken about the close relationship that must exist between parish and family, as well as about the pastoral educational work of the Church.

“Unfortunately, family cannot give too much time to the children’s education, because the parents have jobs, so that the support of the parish is very useful for the children. Having been a large family, the spiritual family must take care of the children whom it baptised. (...) The parish must pay attention to children every week, to see how many children come to the church, how many come to the religion classes, how many know how to pray, how many children come to have the Holy Communion. Our work both educational and pastoral is a great support for the family and then for school too. We pray God to bless all those who work with much love and devotion, with spirit of sacrifice for the education of the children, of the youth, and we congratulate this city hall and the other city halls of Bucharest who take special care for children and old people and we wish much help from God to those who work in this daily centre because we come across difficulties too, especially because now, at the beginning material and moral support is needed so that this daily centre should be a light in their life and a hope for the parents, for the parish and community over here”, explained His Beatitude.

The new centre is focused on helping the children and the families in distress.

The main purpose of Saint Martyr Sofia Centre is to prevent the risk of social exclusion through a programme of social, educational, psychological and medical services.