Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ulanbator (Fides Service) - The little Church in Mongolia is growing fast. When the first Missionaries arrived in 1992 following the dark years of communist atheism, there were no Catholics in the country and they started from scratch. Today there is a community of about 300 baptised Catholics and a good number of catechumens. Besides normal pastoral activity in parishes, various communities of Catholic men and women religious provide assistance for street children, orphans, and poor families and bear witness to God’s love for all men and women.
Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, prefect apostolic told Fides that recently 100 children and adults made the First Holy Communion amidst the joy of the entire Catholic community and many other people. The Mass was held in the cathedral and many came to listen to the Word of Jesus in a spirit of people looking for the truth and meaning to life. This was most encouraging for the community living in a country with a population of 2.7 million mainly nomads. After the fall of communisim the new government restored religious freedom denied in the past and established diplomatic relations with the Holy See. It was Pope John Paul II who asked the Congregation of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Mary to send some of its members to Mongolia.
“When we first arrived in 1992 - Bishop Wenceslao Padilla, prefect apostolic told Fides - we decided on a pastoral plan with the slogan: Come and See and we starter our work caring for street children and families in difficulty. Gradually the local people started coming to see us and they asked us why we were doing all this. This gave us a chance to tell them about the faith and that the reason for our commitment was love for Jesus Christ who loves every man and every woman, but most especially those who suffer. So slowly the Church has grown as the Gospel message filled the void created in hearts by years of communist atheist regime”.
The number of missionaries in Mongolia ha salso increased. There are Salesians who want to start a Boys Town in Mongolia for education and professional training for young. There is a community of Mother Teresa’s Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity who care for the dying and the outcasts and assist as many as 60 families.
There is a new springtime of the faith in Mongolia. People are rediscovering belief in God after years of atheist communist regime under which all faiths were penalised. This year at Easter the local Church welcomed 50 newly baptised members and 100 catechumens are following courses of Christian Initiation in view of baptism at Easter 2006. In Mongolia today there are about 300 baptised Catholics (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/07/2005 Righe: 27 Parole: 279)
