Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sapë (Fides Service) - In Nenshat parish on 29 September the first convent of Discalsed Carmelites in Albania dedicated to the Holy Family and St Michael was inaugurated and blessed. The six Carmelite nuns, four Croats and two Albanians, come from various different convents in Croatia. On the same day a new young Albanian Carmelite nun took the habit.
Some thirty priests from all over Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro concelebrated at the solemn open air Mass presided by the Apostolic Administrator of Sapë diocese Bishop Dodë Gjergji. In his homily the Bishop said: “God wanted to have this convent, the nuns accepted, benefactors helped, many Catholics in this region contributed and today we are filled with joy”.
Present for the occasion: Apostolic Nuncio in Albania, Archbishop Giovanni Bulaitis; Archbishop Zef Gashi of Bar (Monte Negro); Vicar General of Shkodre archdiocese, Rev. Lucjan Avgustini, provincial Capuchins, Bari. The friars have their monastery next to the convent where they go to celebrate daily Mass for the nuns. From Croatia Rev. Jure Zecević, Assistant of the Croat Federation of Religious; Mother Gabriella, prioress of Bistrica and President of the Federation, Mother Ilijana, prioress of Brezovica. Also present on behalf of OCD Father General, Father Zdenko Krizić, Vicar general.
Albania suffered long years under communist regime when all the churches were destroyed and all religions banned. Today the population is 10/15% Catholic, 20/25% Orthodox Christians the rest Muslims. Sapë diocese has a community of about 100,000 Catholics, the highest number after Scutari archdiocese. It has twenty parishes but only five diocesan priests who are assisted by four priests from Italy, three Capuchin religious and one Friar Minor. Albania is a poor country and the Church is poor. Although lacking resources it is struggling to build new churches to replace those destroyed and other localities necessary for service to the people. The local Church can now rely on the spiritual support of the Carmelites to continue her mission and consolidate existing Catholic communities. (S.L.) (Fides Service 23/10/2003 – lines 27; words 385)
