On October 7, 2026, the staff of the “Redemptoris Mater” Hospital of Ashotsk celebrated the 35th anniversary of the hospital’s founding. The festive ceremony was attended by H. E. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto, Ordinary of Catholic Latin-Rite Faithful in Georgia and Armenia; H. E. Mr. Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia, together with his wife and son; Very Rev. Fr. Nerses Galstyan, Deacon of the Armenian Catholic Communities in Armenia; Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, Parish Priest of the Armenian Catholic Communities of Ashotsk; Camillian Fathers Akaki Chelidze and Zygmund Medzwiech; Mr. Karen Manukyan, Head of the Ashotsk Community; other officials from the municipality and state bodies of Ashotsk; Sr. Arusyak Sachonyan, Superior General of the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and Sr. Narine Simonyan, Superior of Armenia; alongside with other guests, medical staff, and residents of Ashotsk.

Miss Hasmik Hambaryan, Deputy Director of the hospital, translated and presented the message of Father Mario Cucarollo, Camillian priest and Director of the hospital. His speech summarized the difficult path the hospital has walked since its establishment following the 1988 earthquake—built under the patronage of St. Pope John Paul II with financial donations and professional assistance from the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Italian Government, and Caritas Italy. Father Mario recalled the Holy Father’s words spoken on the occasion of the hospital’s opening on October 7, 1991: “Dear brothers in Christ, the ‘Redemptoris Mater’ Hospital, together with other bodies that the Catholic Church wished to donate to the Armenian people who suffered from the tragic earthquake of 1988 as a sign of love of the faithful of the Lord, has become a living monument of Christian love and solidarity. Because this is the Church: a community born of God’s love, which finds the meaning of its existence, its sole interest, and its sole goal in love!”

Father Mario recounted how the three Camillian fathers were sent by the Pope to Ashotsk in 1991 to work at the newly established hospital—initially for only six months, but Father Mario continued his service and remains in Armenia to this day. He presented figures testifying to the effective and highly active work of the hospital, catering to the healthcare needs of the Ashotsk and Amasia regions, as well as villages of Javakheti: since 1993, the hospital has recorded 62,459 hospitalizations, performed 32,855 surgeries, and conducted 713,744 equipped examinations. The hospital also runs 21 outpatient clinics in the villages of Ashotsk. “None of these numbers are merely figures. Behind every number is a person, a family, an illness, an anxiety, and most importantly, a human being in need of help,” said Fr. Mario. Until 2012, all these healthcare services were provided completely free of charge. Since 2012, some patients have paid only 20 percent of the amount they would pay in other healthcare facilities, while three daily meals and necessary medications have continued to be provided free of charge to all patients. Beyond medical services, hundreds of families from neighboring villages received social assistance from Italian sponsors through the mediation and care of Father Mario, including 50 residential houses and small farmsteads donated to needy families. The hospital’s healthcare and social services have been sponsored by Caritas Italy, the Italian Episcopal Conference, the Camillian Fathers, individual benefactors, church communities, and volunteer organizations.

Since its inception, Holy Mass, other sacraments, and prayers for the sick have been regularly offered for the hospital staff and patients by the clergy of the Armenian Catholic Ordinariate. Currently, the spiritual chaplain of the hospital is Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, Parish Priest of Ashotsk.

Father Mario also addressed the difficulties—not only material ones, which arose particularly from 2022 when donation volumes dropped significantly and hospital services were even temporarily suspended, but also spiritual and moral challenges: “It was especially difficult to convey the spirit of St. Camillus to the healthcare workers—to teach them to see the suffering Christ in the patient, rather than simply a sick person from whom profit could be derived to overcome one’s own financial struggles, because a hospital is a place where, amid illness, pain, and hardship, a person must feel that they are not alone.”

He also spoke about Sister Noel Locatelli, who served at the hospital for a large part of her life and passed away in 2019. She belonged to the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Saint Charles de Foucauld and was deeply loved for her kindness, extensive humanitarian work, and devotion. This Little Sister of Christ was even awarded the French Order of the Legion of Honor directly at the hospital.

Congratulatory remarks were delivered by the Italian Ambassador, Mr. Alessandro Ferranti. He expressed his gratitude to Father Mario for his extensive work for the hospital, which stands as a testimony to humanity and kindness. The Ambassador also characterized the hospital’s work as a testament to the friendly relations between Italy and Armenia following the 1988 earthquake, resulting from generosity: “In life, there is always darkness and difficulty, but one must always have light, the foundation of which is humanity.” The Ambassador was greatly impressed by the hospital’s operations and discipline.

H. E. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto also congratulated the hospital staff, stating: “What this hospital has accomplished is like a storm that swept across this land. According to my calculations heard today, nearly 1 million people have received medical care in this hospital. This facility is a star for other communities. Here we see the unified work of the Church. I was particularly moved by Father Mario’s words on how difficult it was to instill in the medical staff the mindset of seeing the suffering Christ in patients. That is the most important thing.”

On behalf of H. E. Archbishop Gevorg Noratunkyan, Very Rev. Fr. Nerses Galstyan delivered words of congratulation and blessing. He drew the attention of those present to the fact that after the 1988 Spitak earthquake, Italy was the first nation to extend aid to Armenia and in the largest volume, for which Fr. Nerses expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the Ordinary to the people of Italy through the Italian Ambassador. He spoke about the challenges accompanying the hospital’s founding—particularly regarding the difference in mindset between the post-Soviet local residents and the Italian clergy. “To accomplish all this required not only capabilities, but also great faith. I have witnessed firsthand the love with which Father Mario and Sister Noel carried out their service here. I have immense respect for Father Mario; though not ethnically Armenian, he suffers with the pain of the patients under his care and the heroic soldiers. Words are redundant; one should simply kiss his hand. This is not just a hospital; human dignity has been defended here. The hospital showed that this region is no longer neglected, and people do not belong to a second class. On behalf of us all, I thank the Government of Italy, Caritas Italy, and especially those individuals who wore themselves out serving us here. The second exemplary person is Sister Noel, who bowed and wore herself out for us. This is, first and foremost, a service of hope. We also thank the medical staff for their work. Very few express the desire to serve in such remote institutions as Ashotsk.”

Sister Arusyak Sachonyan added in her remarks: “If this hospital has reached its 35th anniversary, it is the result of divine providence. This hospital is the fruit of the dedication of the Pope and the Camillian fathers. It is the fruit of unified work and devotion. The hospital and Italy have given us so much; let us think about what we can give them in return.”

Words of congratulations and gratitude were also offered by Dr. Sonya Voskanyan, Medical Director of the hospital, who praised the Camillian fathers, the Italian people, and the Catholic Church for their immense work and sponsorship. Patients and mothers of families who had experienced the hospital’s social assistance also shared their remarks. The anniversary event concluded with a warm reception.

Fr. Hovsep Galstyan

Chancellor of the Ordinariate

October 8, 2026