Caritas employees held their jubilee pilgrimage at the St. Martin Cathedral in Mukachevo on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The day was also a spiritual day, in which about a hundred Caritas employees participated – including employees of rehabilitation institutions and social kitchens – from various settlements of the diocese.
During the program, the participants first took part in a mini-pilgrimage, at six stations of which they had the opportunity to pray and reflect on questions that help them to honestly consider their service and their inner motives. At the first WHY? station, they tried to find the reasons, what motivates them to serve (love for God or recognition from people?), the second TO WHOM? station aims to highlight that Jesus is present in every person in need, the third station WITH WHOM? – was about clarifying our relationships with our colleagues (do I criticize them or can I overlook their mistakes?), the fourth station the HOW? is about our own integrity (do we help without prejudice, do we try to distribute the goods entrusted to us fairly?), the fifth station AND ME? tried to shed light on the right balance between service and private life (it is our duty to pay attention to our own physical and mental health so that we can continue to help others), the sixth station is the question of WHERE? – service requires strength, which we draw from God, mainly through prayer.
Of course, no one can achieve this perfectly – yet God loves and accepts everyone. However, it is important that everyone honestly faces their own motives and difficulties, as this is the only way to start on the path of spiritual growth. If someone is not honest with themselves, they can easily deviate from this path – but if they admit their shortcomings, God will always come to their aid.
After the mini-pilgrimage, the pilgrims prayed the rosary together, which was followed by a lecture by Father Arnold Hortobágyi OSB, then adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass.
In his speech, Father Arnold drew attention to the fact that the service of Charity is not only about providing help, but also about conveying hope. He pointed out the internal motivations of helping work, the possible difficulties, as well as the importance of self-knowledge and setting the right boundaries. He emphasized that the essence of the charitable spirit is helping with joy, awareness and faith.
The father also drew attention to the fact that we must become adult Christians in order to be truly good helpers, this means that we want to serve God. In the process of helping, we must provide help to everyone in need — even those who are different from us in nationality or in other ways. We must not judge those who need support because of their own mistakes.
At the end of his speech, he thanked the Lord for showing us how fragile and rich the heart of a helping person is. He asked God to teach us that helping should not be a compulsion, but a pure, free “yes.” In his prayer, he asked for strength to help without reciprocation—not to desire recognition, but to draw strength from the silence of encounters.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Father István Pogány, president of the St. Martin Caritas of Transcarpathia. In his sermon, he emphasized that in the life of Jesus, the preaching of the Gospel and good deeds were inseparable, and this is still the case today: where the church operates authentically, the institution of Caritas is definitely present. He also drew attention to the fact that the practice of mercy is done in the name of Jesus, and that the mission of Caritas is to recognize Jesus in everyone in need. At the same time, he reminded that helpers cannot meet every need, feed every hungry person or heal every sick person, but what they can do, they do with love, faith and according to the available resources for the glory of God and the benefit of their fellow human beings.
The day ended with a joint lunch. This meeting was very important because it provided an opportunity to share problems and exchange experiences. At the end of the day, the participants went home spiritually strengthened, ready to continue their service to those in need.