The morning of October 17, 2018 commenced with a Holy Mess in Ordinariate of the Armenian Catholic church in Yerevan. The Mess was conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Raphael Minassian whose patriarchal message targeted the Caritas community, Caritas Family, whose mission is to serve the Armenian nation with love and compassion. The Mess was accompanied by Archimandrite Garnik Hovsepyan and Archimandrite Narek Mnoyan.
The sacred ceremony was attended by representatives of various Caritas organizations-general secretary of European Caritas, representatives of the Spanish, German, French, Austrian, Check, Georgian Caritases, who arrived to meet their partner Armenian Caritas and in the morning to pray altogether for the benefit of the Armenian people.
The Mess was followed by a meeting. There were also invited the local and international partners of Armenian Caritas such as Ministry of Labour and Social affairs, Ministry of Diaspora, representatives of the Austrian Red Cross, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) , World Vision, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development and other organizations, that have cooperated or will cooperate with Armenian Caritas in the near future.

Archbishop Rafael Minassian made an introductory statement and spoke about Caritas and common goals, underlining that everyone, both Armenian Caritas and partner organizations, are called upon by God’s mission to make positive changes in society, helping the poor to overcome their moral and public unhealthy social situation. “ It is a great honor for me to meet with you here in Armenia the Holy country of all times. It is honor and joy to experiment the real meaning of Caritas in general and as today the Caritas partners. My believe is that no differences between Caritas and Caritas Armenia or partners; because all of us we are called to the same Vocation given us from above, from God. Our vocation is a sacred mission we are called for it in this world.
The goal of Caritas in my understanding is to make a difference in our society. To make a change, to bring back our brothers and sisters from the morally and socially destroyed society. Our society lost all its noble human values. Here is the change that we should all together work for. But before making my wishes, I would say a few words about Caritas Armenia.
Caritas Armenia confers its partners with gratitude and love for all these years we worked together with you. My wish, or our wish as Caritas Armenia is to continue our relationship with more vigor and great introductory to the world.
Caritas Armenia in these few years did open its heart to carry as much as possible the misery of the humans in our territories plus all who came as refugees to this region. Caritas Armenia paid with big sacrifices the services done to their brothers and sisters in need, transforming their life to a joyful and peaceful life.
Therefore, I would say I am deeply satisfied with this gathering whereas chosen people, or individuals, from different countries, we would make this change. The charity we try to do, is the fundamental element that we should build it in Caritas. It is our mission to witness the love of God expressed through us in our actions, with compassion.
Dear brothers and sisters you are welcomed in Armenia, but don’t let the place or the country where you are, governs you, but let our strategy, guidance bring us to serve our beloved ones in need. Let the Divine Mercy of our Lord Jesus strengthen and assist us in doing the good of change to our society.
My wish and advice if you would accept it from me, as your elderly man of God, try that this partnership goes and remain under shadow of our Savior to bring and gives abundant fruit. Remember the words of our Lord who gives these children a glass of water on my name will never be forgotten. Don’t take this advice as a sentence given by a clergy, but by someone who believed and lived this experience of the divine Merciful and the Lord saved him from all deficiencies, not only but brought him to the peaceful shore.
This is my wish to you the Peace of our Lord be with you and defends you from all evil ones ”

“Armenian Caritas has a history of 24 years and started its activities on May 10, 1995, as an Armenian Catholic primate. We were only two at the very start of the work. These were very difficult times for Armenia, we didn’t know what a public organization was, what Caritas meant, and it was during this period that by one of our founders, Mrs. Zvart Najaryan, two of us were sent to trainings. After the trainings we began our activities. The Armenian Catholic Church gave us a small place, we had only 1 table and 4 chairs, but today the Armenian Caritas has 220 employees. Currently, the organization works in 4 regions of Armenia and in Yerevan and implements 55 projects. We had a great success, and this is thanks to all of you, our partners. Without your support, we would not have been able to achieve such a success, ” said executive director Gagik Tarasyan in his speech.

Secretary of the Caritas European Committee John Nuno Meier, spoke about the huge work that Caritas has been undertaking during all these years. He accented the outcomes of the close cooperation, which made this colossal work possible, making a difference in lives of thousands of people.

Representative of Armenian Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Manukyan conducted a situational analysis of social protection of vulnerable groups, migration and integration, economic and agricultural development. “We attach great importance to the activities of Armenian Caritas in Armenia, and I especially want to mention the Small Group House project, implemented by Caritas, which is being implemented in Vanadzor, and we are going to join this project with our funding next year, since this is in line with our government’s policy. And also I want to express my satisfaction with the activities of the social centers, ” said the Deputy Minister, asserting that they are ready for cooperation in the future.
The representative of Halep organization Sargis Balyan and deputy assistant governor Shirak Suren Avdalyan assured that once they were the beneficiaries of the Armenian Caritas, and now they are ready to cooperate on different platforms.
During the meeting Caritas employees together with their partners, analyzed the results of the implemented programs, mutual coordination of the strategy and implementation of programs, discussed proposals for the necessary changes in strategy or software, problems of social work and new solutions.
In the second part of the meeting there was a group discussion of the “Open Zone” format, protection of the interests of vulnerable groups, the need for social transformations and innovations, strategic changes, accompanied by presentations on strategic areas, and presented their visions of development strategy.

The last discussion was in the“Hot Chairs” format – social protection and inclusion, economic development, Caritas as a bridge between the EU and Armenia.