Church in Zamora, Spain, reports 15,907 people served in 2025 through 51 care centers

The Church in Zamora served 15,907 people in 51 care centers in 2025, according to the diocese’s annual accounts. Much of this work focused on fighting poverty, caring for the elderly, and supporting people looking for employment. The diocese’s activity also extends to education, the preservation of heritage, and pastoral care in its 304 parishes.

The diocese presented these figures on the Día de la Iglesia Diocesana, held on 8 November under the motto “God counts on you.” The celebration invites people to recognize those who make the Church’s presence possible and to help support them. The provisional data show that 11,461 people were served in 27 centres dedicated to poverty alleviation, and 903 people received support in the field of employment. In ten homes for the elderly, chronic patients, and persons with disabilities, 781 people were cared for.

Other services included support for 639 people in rehabilitation centres for drug addicts, 307 people in the care centre for migrants and refugees, and 193 minors in four centres. The diocese described these figures as some of the services that form part of the Church’s assistance network in Zamora. The social work also relied on volunteers: 225 from Cáritas and 46 from Manos Unidas. The two organizations carried out six international cooperation projects, to which they allocated a total of 239,293 euros.

Alongside this social work, parish life continued throughout the year. In 2025, 498 baptisms, 555 first communions, 407 confirmations, and 94 marriages were celebrated. The diocese counted 113 priests, three permanent deacons, two seminarians, and 242 catechists, along with 154 religious and 131 cloistered nuns and monks. Missionary work was represented by 105 missionaries and two families in mission.

In education, the ten agreed Catholic centres enrolled 4,155 students, with 397 teachers and 67 other staff members. In the area of heritage, the diocese reported 45 properties of cultural interest and 24 construction and rehabilitation projects.

The diocese reported income of 5,814,365.26 euros. Of this, 4,879,224.57 euros was regular income, with the largest single source being the tax allocation of the Interdiocesan Common Fund, at 3,256,922.03 euros. Extraordinary income totaled 935,140.69 euros, mainly from the disposal of assets. Regular expenditure came to 3,119,508.09 euros, including 1,260,029.76 euros for clergy remuneration, 987,571.99 euros for secular staff, 701,032.84 euros for building maintenance and operation, and 170,873.50 euros for pastoral and welfare activities. Extraordinary expenses totaled 155,259.17 euros, of which 152,520.63 euros went to rehabilitation programmes. The diocese recorded a financing capacity of 2,539,598 euros for the year.

In his message for the day, the Bishop of Zamora, Fernando Valera, linked membership in the Church with personal commitment. “By sharing what we are as believers, faith transforms our history and becomes concrete in works,” he said. The diocese said that each person can contribute according to his or her means, whether through time, knowledge, prayer, or financial help, and that it values this collaboration, on which parish support and many of its services depend. “Your contribution, however small it may seem, is the bread and fish that the Señor multiplies so that no one lacks the warmth of the community, the consolation of the sacraments and the bread of charity,” Valera said.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Spanish)