“I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did it to me.” (Matt. 25: 40)

Our community lives in a nursing facility, (of 114 beds) which cares for the elderly and for children, many of whom are mentally or physically handicapped. We, the Daughters of Charity, in collaboration with volunteers, organize leisure activities (walks, readings, group games, picnics, etc.) and celebrations for the great feasts (Christmas, Easter, etc). Since January 2016 we provide, along with a group of volunteers, pastoral care for prisons, by visiting a local prison of 400 inmates.  There we hold individual and group encounters and invite those who wish to participate at the Mass by singing or as lecturers.

What is our project?

Given the dedication of each volunteer during leisure activities and because this year 2017, the Church and particularly the Society of St Vincent are celebrating the 400th anniversary of the charismatic work of St Vincent, we would like to offer to the volunteers who work for us a training. This will take place from 20 to 24 September 2017 in the four institutions where professionals teacher both theory and practice. Discovering different care facilities, listening, observing, sharing will allow these volunteers to broaden horizons, to acquire new knowledge, and to have a beautiful human and spiritual experience.

Who is going to benefit?

The 30 volunteers from three institutions in Kartuzy, Swiecie, and Wejherowo.

Where is the project going to be held?

It will take place in the following institutions:

• a hospice for adults suffering from cancer (Father E. Dutkiewicz in Gdansk): all the activities of the Foundation are destined to bring global end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, their families—adults and children—during the illness and after the death of their loved one—with the awareness that, even if death is part of human life, it is difficult to prepare oneself to accept it.
• the nursing home in Torun;
• the society for palliative care in Czestochowa;
• the  Brother Albert shelter for the homeless in Cracow.

The training will conclude with a pilgrimage to the Basilica of St Vincent de Paul in Budgoszcz, where Holy Mass will be celebrated by Father Tomaz Maviric, the Superior General of the Society of St Vincent de Paul for the 400th anniversary of the charismatic work of St Vincent.

This special time set aside for training aims to make our volunteers more sensitive to the cares of others, to affirm their ability to give of themselves and to share their know how with those most in need, and to develop, specially in the young, an attitude of voluntary service.

Spending a week in these places marked by suffering, compassion and spirituality will certainly leave impressions in the heart.

Thank you to all persons who help us to succeed in making this project a reality.