Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) – The central Asian church in Baku, Azerbaijan, will be among the beneficiaries of the now traditional Charity Auction organised at Christmas by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The funds raised this year, will serve to provide social and religious structures in needy mission territories of Asia, particularly the young Church in Azerbaijan. Ever greater in fact are the needs of these brothers and sisters in the faith who hope for an act of solidarity to help them live in more dignified conditions and to have a place of worship, however modest, in which to gather to praise God, the Father of all men and women. The auction will be held on 11 December at 6pm at the Pontifical Urban University (Via Urbano VIII; 16, Gianicolo Hill, Rome).
Items for auction are selected from the many gifts presented over the centuries to the Pope and to the Missionary Congregation De Propaganda Fide. This year the items chosen to attract generous purchasers include an elegant 17th century holy water stoup, two Florentine candle sticks, several pieces of magnificent silverware of the early 20th century and a few valuable oil paintings. Fully aware that the auction can by no means solve the enormous problems of poverty and need in vast areas of Asia, the Congregation intends to offer a sign of sharing and solidarity with the sorely tried peoples and to the many generous missionaries who work among them and who rely heavily on CEP support. Funds raised at previous auctions were sent to children in Afghanistan, people in Mongolia and displaced persons in Angola. (S.L.) (Fides Service 4/12/2003 – lines 16; words 226)
