Irish and Phillippines Provincials visit Russian mission

At the end of May Fr. Pat Courtney MSC (Irish Provincial) and Fr. Tito Maratas MSC (Phillippine Provincial) travelled to the Northern Caucusus of Russia to visit the four members of the MSC Russian mission.

The parishioners in each of the mission parishes were anxious to meet with Fr. Pat to try and persuade him to do all could to keep Fr Pavol, from the South German-Austrian Province, who is due to return to ministry in Slovakia later in the summer. But they were also keen to meet Fr. Tito who had come to visit the mission for the first time vith a view to sending some confreres from the Phillippines Province to strengthen the MSC mission in Russia.

Irish and Phillippines Provincials visit Russian mission

Frs Tito and Pat

At the end of May Fr. Pat Courtney MSC (Irish Provincial) together with Fr. Tito Maratas MSC (Phillippine Provincial) travelled to the Northern Caucusus of Russia to visit the four members of the MSC Russian mission. Fr Steve Rogers MSC, who had been on a short break in Ireland and Scotland, travelled with them to ensure all went smoothly in transit. The MSC community in Piatigorsk, together with the parishioners from the various parishes, had looked forward to their visit for some time. Fr Pavol Baros MSC met them at the local airport and assisted with the necessary registrations at Piatigorsk.

Fr Pavol

Sadly the mission will be losing Pavol at the end of the summer when he will return to his native Slovakia to take up formation and vocations ministry. His return will be a great loss to the community, the parishes and the overall mission to which Pavol has been so dedicated since his arrival with Tomek in 2006.

L-R: Frs Con, Pat, Steve and Tito

The parishioners were anxious to meet with Fr. Pat to try and persuade him to do all could to keep Pavol. But they were also keen to meet Fr. Tito who had come to visit the mission for the first time vith a view to sending some confreres from the Phillippines Province to strengthen the MSC mission in Russia.

Parishioners at Giorgievsk

Having arrived and registered on a Tuesday, the guests settled and celebrated a quiet evening Mass in the sisters’ Chapel round the corner from the MSC community residence. The following day Frs. Pat and Tito travelled with Steve and Tomek to the community at Georgievsk and concelebrated Mass at 12 noon followed by a meeting with parishioners and lunch. Later they travelled to a small community at Orlovka and also enjoyed their meeting and hospitality.

The following morning there was a visit and meeting with parishioners in the main parish community of Piatigorsk where Pavol has been serving as parish priest. He has built up strong bonds of trust and friendship with the parishioners and their dread of losing him was obvious.

Mass at Kislovodsk

On Friday, Steve and Pavol travelled with the Provincials to the very popular and beautiful resort town of Kislovodsk, where Steve serves as parish priest. After a look around the town to take in the beautiful sites and fresh air (according to statistics the sun shines more often here on a yearly basis then anywhere else in Russia) evening Mass was celebrated with the mainly Armenian catholic community followed by a meeting with the parishioners and a meal. Fr Steve and his parishioners are very excited that soon a very large building will be purchased to serve as their new chapel and catechetical centre near the town centre.

The parishioners at Stavropole

An early rise was necessary on Saturday in order to travel the 3 hour journey to the Otradny region and concelebrate Mass in Sadovi village at 10.30am. Here Fr Con serves the catholic community of Armenian-Rite. Eucharist was followed by a concert and refreshments. In the afternoon the visitors moved to Poputny town to the chapel there where they were welcomed by the large Armenian community. Following a time of prayer in Armenian they were treated to another concert and beautiful meal. Then they set out for Stavropole city, a 2 hour journey, to celebrate Mass with the small Catholic community there. Fr. Tito recognised many of the melodies of the charismatic songs being sung by the parishioners before Mass. That evening the group made the long journey back to Piatigorsk, a little tired but in high spirits.

Armenian women

During their visit Fr. Pat gave a homily at each mass, which was translated, sharing some reflections on the M.S.C. Charism, the vital role of lay involvement and also some explanations on the other work of the Irish Province. Fr. Tito also shared some thoughts and spoke a little about the work of the Phillipine Province.

Fr Tomek

On Sunday morning Mass was concelebrated at the church at Piatigorsk. In the afternoon Tomek and Steve accompanied Pat and Tito to Novopavlovsk parish, where Steve had been serving and doing trojan work. Since his arrival, Fr Tomek has continued and developed this work and also built up a fine pastoral relationship with the mainly Assyrian, Armenian and Polish parishioners, among whom he is loved and valued. Tomek (from Poland), in his own quiet and disarming manner, has put his organisation skills to good pastoral use and developed good sacramental preparation programmes where the young parishioners take an active part.

The visiting guests are presented with flowers

On the last evening Frs. Pat and Tito gave some feedback on their impressions of the Mission. Pat expressed his sincere thanks to the members of the community for their zealous committment to the ministry and was impressed by the lively faith of the many and various peoples he had met during the week. Fr. Tito also gave his heartfelt thanks to one and all and also remarked of his being deeply touched by the lively faith of the parishioners. He expressed the hope of being able to send two Phillippine MSCs in September 2010 to take up studies of the language and culture and begin their insertion into the Irish Province’s mission in Russia.

On behalf of the community, Pavol expressed sincerest thanks to Pat and Tito for their warm and relaxed presence among the members of the Russian mission and for the encouragement and support they had given.