Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dushanbe (Fides Service) - Two priests from Argentina, members of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, have reached their new destination: the Catholic Mission in Tagikistan. The priests are Father Ezequiel Ayala from Baya Blanca (Buenos Aires) and Father Pedro Lopez, from San Rafael, Mendoza province. The new missionaries were ordained priests five months ago and for some time they have been preparing for their mission. Tagikistan, its language, its culture, are a totally new but the local Church is very familiar.
Their first task was to study Russian and Tajik. In fact masses are celebrated mainly in Russian and although most of the local Catholics speak Russian, the official and most widely spoken language is Tajik. This is why the missionaries wanted to learn the local languages.
The Catholic Mission of Tagikistan “sui iuris” established in 1997, has three parishes and a missionary centre Yovon. The five priests are all members of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. In Tajikistan there is also a community of the Missionaries of Charity, an order founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. Tajikistan has an area of 143.000 sq km, and it borders with Kyrgyzstan, China, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. It has a population of about 6 million, 85% Muslims. The Catholic community is composed of 250 persons. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/3/2004; Righe 16; Parole 228)
