ASIA/TAJIKISTAN - Small Catholic community in Tajikistan welcomes three new missionaries, Sisters of the Congregation of the Servants of the Lord and Our Lady of Matara

Tuesday, 26 April 2005

Dushanbe (Fides Service) - On April 21 the Catholic mission in Tajikistan gave a warm welcome to three new missionary Sisters, Servants of the Lord and Our Lady of Matara, Fr. Carlos Avila Superior of the Mission told Fides. The three Sisters have mission experience in various parts of the world. Mother Maria Pocs worked for several years in Kazan, Tatar Republic, Sister Mariam Malaika worked in Loja, Ecuador; Ukrainian Sister Maria from Blagovishenia was involved in the formation of new Sisters in Italy.
“Their presence is important for their witness of religious life. The Sisters will help with the spiritual assistance of the small Catholic community in Dushanbe” Fr Avila told Fides asking asks for prayers that their mission in Tajikistan will bear much fruit
The congregation of the Servants of the Lord and Our Lady of Matará was founded in 1988 by Fr Carlos Miguel Buela at San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina. The institute is part of the religious family of the Incarnate Word founded by Fr Buela, which also has priests of the Incarnate Word and a Tertiary Secular Order. The priests and women religious have two branches, work of apostolate and contemplative. The Sister strive to spread the Word of God though study and teaching Sacred Scripture, theology, the Fathers of the Church, assisting with liturgy, catechesis, ecumenical activities etc. They help with parish missions, organise retreats, religious formation of children and assisting abandoned children, the disabled, the elderly. They also publish magazines and books.
The congregation today has 655 Sisters: 205 professed, 246 temporary votes, 99 novices and postulants and 105 aspirants. They work in 20 different countries: Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain Tenerife, Italy, Peru, Taiwan, Ukraine, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Egypt, United States, Jordan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Tartar Republic, Philippines, Holland, Tajikistan. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 26/4/2005; righe 28, parole 355)


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