Carmen, Rosana, Maite, Marta, María José, Amparo, Pupe, Elena, Lola and Isabel are the group of volunteers coordinating the Board of Trustees of Social Action (PAS) of the CARF Foundation. The entity aims to complement CARF's activity of serving the Church and priests. The money they raise, from the many activities they carry out, helps to carry out various initiatives. One of the most successful activities is called Teje que teje: "The team of volunteers weaves baby clothes that we sell through our weekly flea market and the large biannual flea markets that we organize at PAS. We also do commissioned work for individuals and companies - let us know what you need," explains Maite, the coordinator.
Three of the volunteers who knit every Thursday are María Teresa, Lourdes and Rosa. They knit clothes for babies and children. Booties, hoods, sweaters, diaper covers, frocks, rattles, blankets, Austrian jackets... everything for babies. "Now, many grandmothers order their grandchildren's trousseau from us, and the money raised goes to the needs of priests and seminarians," they explain.
These three volunteers have been knitting baby and children's clothing for four years. All three are retired: one is a nurse, one a teacher and one a writer by hobby. This activity brings together approximately 10 ladies every Thursday. "What is most successful is the set of newborn sweaters, with their booties and hoods," they explain.
To take part in this activity, you don't need to be a knitting expert, you just need to be enthusiastic and have a minimum of experience. "Between Maite and Maritere, who is the one who started this activity, they have taught us a lot about how to finish off the clothes. We are delighted to contribute to this activity and to be able to to help the seminarians and priests of the CARF Foundation".they say.
In the picture we see Rosa, Lourdes and Maria Teresa, three volunteers of the CARF Foundation who meet every Thursday to knit baby clothes to help the formation of priests and seminarians. The money raised goes to the scholarships granted by the Foundation, or to other needs of the priests in their home dioceses. "We, delighted to contribute with this activity to help CARF seminarians and priests," they say.
The money they raise from the many activities they carry out helps to carry out various initiatives. For example, the endowment of vestments and liturgical objects to newly ordained priests through the Sacred Vessel Case (backpack). Every year at the Bidasoa International Seminar in Pamplona, a very special meeting is organized between volunteers and benefactors and friends of the CARF Foundation. in which this backpack is given to each seminarian who returns to his diocese to be ordained a priest.
This family day always ends with a long-awaited moment: the PAS managers backpacks delivered to the 25 seminarians The students are returning to their countries of origin, where they will be ordained after an intense period of formation in the Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University of Navarra.
PAS activities also help to advance the development of the medical-health needs of priests and seminarians displaced from their countries of origin, as well as care and assistance to elderly priests who are unaccompanied.
In addition, they contribute to financing material support for various tasks in parishes in needy countries.
"Now, many grandmothers order their grandchildren's trousseau, baby clothes, and all money raised goes to the needs of priests and seminarians of the CARF Foundation."
Some of the activities they perform are the following:
They also organize snacks with solidarity gatherings with a priest or seminarian. If you want to be a PAS volunteer, find out more at this link, through this email, [email protected]or call Rosana, 659 057 320 or Carmen, 659 378 901.
Marta Santín
Journalist specializing in religious information.
