Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karaganda (Fides Service) - Pastoral work is proceeding well for the first two priests ordained after theological studies at the Catholic Seminary in Karaganda, the only Catholic seminary in Central Asia. The inter-diocesan major seminary Sancta Maria Mater Ecclesiae was opened in Karaganda, with the permission of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples on 14 January 2005. The rector is Polish born Rev. Zygmunt Kwieciński of the clergy of Kielce, Poland, and 20 local young men are studying for the priesthood. Fr Nicolai Mamajev aged 28 and Fr. Marius Kowalski aged 37- ordained in May 2006 - threw themselves wholeheartedly into pastoral work with young people and families, as well as celebrating the Sacraments and engaging in charity work.
Kazakhstan has a population of 15 million and the Catholic community is a tiny minority of 300,000. Evangelisation in the central Asian step lands continues thanks to work of missionaries and local lay people. In 1991 the country had 9 resident Catholic priests, today the number has grown to 80, and there are 100 women religious and about dedicated 70 catechists and lay missionaries. As we said above there are 20 seminarians and other vocations are budding.
“We are a young Church which is growing. We are on the move with the enthusiasm of children to witness the faith and spread the Word of God in the vast territory of Kazakhstan, the largest country in Central Asia ”, said Bishop Jan Pawel Lenga, the Catholic Bishop of Karaganda.
Catholics are a small minority but all four dioceses register baptisms every year because there is freedom to evangelise in keeping with the law and respecting believers of other religions. Bishop Lenga said young people are a priority, the Church is young and young Catholics must be present and active. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2007 righe 26 parole 263)
