On the outskirts of city of Romania, the SSpS Sisters are working at the grassroots—bringing education and care to Roma families excluded from mainstream society.
As the sun rises over the outskirts of Roman, Romania, Sr. Maria Chiara Ellecosta walks along a dirt road, past crumbling buildings that were never meant to house families. In this neglected part of the city, people live without security, warmth, or comfort; yet, within these fragile homes, hope still flickers. At the entrance of a small dwelling, an elderly woman stands waiting. Her eyes light up as Sr. Maria Chiara approaches. “You came,” she whispers with a smile, reaching out her frail hands.
Sr. Maria Chiara has lived and worked in Romania since her profession in 1992. Together with Sr. Anna Tisea from Romania and Sr. Therese Wini from Indonesia, she serves in the community of the Sisters in Roman, dedicating herself to those on the fringes of society. Through her mission, she has come to understand that transformation happens not just in those she serves but within herself as well.
A Journey into Mission
When Sr. Maria Chiara Ellecosta first arrived in Romania, she was overwhelmed by the depth of poverty. The stark reality of marginalized communities challenged her understanding of mission. Yet, she knew she was called to serve—not with grand solutions, but through small, faithful acts of presence.
In 2019, she joined Fundația Pacea, an organization founded by the Franciscans to support Roma children and their families. In the beginning, her role focused on hygiene, education and home visits with a social worker. Many of the children came from an area known as the Olympic Village, though the name belied the harsh conditions: makeshift homes with no running water, electricity, or heating.
Despite these challenges, the children greeted her with laughter, their joy undiminished by their circumstances. Their mothers, weary but strong, welcomed her into their homes. And the elderly—often forgotten by society—became an integral part of her mission.
Encounters that Transform
Among those she visits weekly are three elderly women who live in extreme isolation.
Tanti (Auntie) I, as they call her, waits at the entrance of her building every week, eager for company. Her embrace is warm, her gratitude immense. Though her living conditions are poor, she has made her small room into a home filled with love.
Tanti (Auntie) M suffers from deteriorating health, and Sr. Anna provides her with medical care. But beyond physical needs, she longs for companionship. She often speaks of the struggles around her—violence fueled by alcohol and drugs, families torn apart by hardship. Yet, within her, there is a quiet resilience, a faith that endures despite everything.
At the end of a dimly lit corridor lies Tanti (Auntie) S, 85 years old, bedridden for two years in a space devoid of dignity. She broke her leg trying to stop her sons from fighting, and fear kept her from seeking medical help. Now, she cannot walk. Despite her suffering, she possesses humor and wisdom that astonish. On her bedside table, she keeps an icon of the Mother of God and a cross. “God does not answer me,” she often says. “But maybe He speaks through the people who come to see me.” Her words linger in Sr. Maria Chiara’s heart. What if God is present in every shared moment, in every small act of love?
Life with Roma Children in the Olympic Village
As a missionary working with Fundatia Pacea, a Franciscan-founded NGO established in 1999, Sr. Maria Chiara accompany Roma children and their families living on the outskirts of Roman, Romania—many of whom were displaced and resettled in what is known as the “Olympic Village,” once a cattle stable during the communist era. Over the past five years, she witnessed some hopeful changes as several families have moved into new, modest social housing provided by the municipality. At the Social Center, she helps care for around 40 children in kindergarten and support school-age children with homework, especially since the school sadly closed last year. Beyond academics, her greatest mission is to help the children believe in themselves—to encourage, uplift, and make sure each one feels seen, loved, and accepted.
The Heart of Mission: Becoming Gospel
What moves Sr. Maria Chiara to continue this work, to walk into places of suffering, to sit with those whom society ignores? It is the certainty that God is present in the margins, and that the Gospel is not just words but lived encounters.
She has come to see that mission is not about fixing the world but about bearing witness to the love of Christ in the simplest of ways. Whether by listening to a child’s story, bringing warmth to a lonely elderly woman, or simply showing up week after week, transformation happens in these quiet, faithful acts.
“Even if I can’t do much,” she reflects, “the path to the periphery is the path of Jesus. It is the Gospel lived in its most authentic way.”
Where is Your Mission?
The mission field is not always in distant lands. It exists wherever there are lonely hearts, broken spirits, and forgotten people.
Sr. Maria Chiara’s journey invites each of us to ask: Where are the peripheries in our own lives? Who is waiting for an encounter with the love of God through us?
You can support this mission in tangible ways:
- Pray for missionaries and the people they serve, that they may continue to be Gospel to one another.
- Give to support initiatives like Fundația Pacea, helping provide education, healthcare, and companionship to those in need.
- Serve in your local community, recognizing that mission is not about distance but about presence.
Mission is not just for religious sisters. It is a call for all. It is an invitation to step beyond our comfort zones, to see Christ among the least, and to become Gospel for one another.
Will you answer the call?
Olympic Village or Grajduri, meaning “to the stables,” is the name given to this Roma neighborhood, located far outside the city of Roman.
Sr. Maria Chiara visiting a family living at the outskirts of the city.
he schoolchildren are integrated into a school for Roma children in the city, which is also part of the Franciscan school institution.
NB: The Roma community in Romania
The Roma people represent one of the largest ethnic communities in Romania. Based on the 2002 census data, their population was recorded at approximately 535,140, making up around 2.5% of the country’s total population. This places them as the second-largest ethnic minority after the Hungarian community. Across Europe, an estimated 8 to 10 million Roma people live, with many facing severe poverty. In South-Eastern Europe alone, nearly two million Roma children lack access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and vocational training, limiting their opportunities and deepening cycles of exclusion.
