| Visit to MSC Russian Mission |
 St. Basil's Church on Red Square The MSC mission is based in the town of Pyatigorsk, a two hour flight due south of Moscow. At present there are four MSC in the community; Frs. Steve Rogers and Con Docherty from the Irish Province and Frs. Pavol Baros and Tomek Poterala from the South German/Austrian Province.  L-R: Frs. Carl, Pavol, Steve and Dan During their time in Pyatigorsk Frs. Carl and Dan were able to visit seven of the eight mission areas (parishes and mass centres). They were also able to visit the community of the Claretian Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (three sisters from Mexico) who have been in Pyatigorsk since June and who are working in close collaboration with the MSC. While in Moscow on the return journey they also met briefly with the bishop of the diocese where the MSCs are working.  Mass in the parish church at Pyatigorsk  Mass at Staropavlovskia The diocese (one of just four dioceses in the whole of Russia) covers the entire Caucasus region as well as part of the Volga region to the north. The Cathedral is in Saratov (an hour’s flight or two day drive north). The diocese is four times the size of Germany and currently has 42 priests, just two of them diocesan. Some eight inches of freshly fallen snow greeted Dan and Carl when they arrived and it was quite cold (-4 with a much lower wind chill). In the deeper parts of winter (December to February/March) the temperatures are often -20 or lower. In the middle of summer temperatures are usually in the high 30’s and often well into the 40’s.  Frs. Steve and Pavol with Sisters Martha, Patricia and Catalina Pyatigorsk is the natural centre for the current mission, which comprises four parishes and four mass stations and covers an area of about 25,000 square kilometres. There are four centres to the east, one to the south-west and two to the west-north-west. The centres are quite dispersed and entail a lot of travelling for each to be covered weekly. This can be especially challenging when one takes into account the extremes of weather, the poor condition of the roads and the regular police road checks that are an attempt to curb the terrorist activity of the Chechen rebels.  The catholic community at Stavropo The Catholic population in Southern Russia is a dispersed community from many different ethnic backgrounds. Many have lived through difficult years of multiple displacements, confiscations of property and loss of family members through war, persecution and violence. Most families live very simple lives and many of the men are working away from home in bigger Russian cities or overseas, sending home what money they can. It is largely the older generation who have kept the Catholic faith alive despite the absence of priests and the lack of opportunity to worship and celebrate sacraments.  Mass at Stavropol - Fr. Pavol leads the singing  Children's catechesis in Otradnia Frs. Carl and Dan were overwhelmed by the faith and determination of each of the communities they visited. Many of the groups meet in the homes of parishioners and long for the day when they will have the money and the permission from the State to build churches of their own. Despite the many difficulties of language, climate, extensive travelling, road blocks and stifling bureaucracy, the MSC community is in enthusiastic and optimistic mood. With a passion for the people and the mission, and a desire to make God’s love real and manifest, their own faith sustains them and urges them onwards. |