EUROPE/ITALY - On the feast day of its founder Saint Josemaria Opus Dei announces stable activity of members of the Prelature in Russia

Roma (Agenzia Fides) - “My soul is filled with great joy which I wish to share with you. Today the feast of Saint San Josemaria, members of the Opus Dei Prelature in Russia have begun stable work in those lands which extend from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean from the Black Sea to the Glacial Arctic Ocean . This fulfils a dream of Saint Josemaria, who wished for the spirit of Opus Dei to spread all over the world including eastern Europe. You have no idea how he longed for this moment!” These words were said by the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Mons. Javier Echevarría, during a solemn concelebration of the Eucharist in honour of Saint Josemaria on the 22nd anniversary of his heavenly birth. The Mass was celebrated in the evening of June 26 in the Basilica Sant’Eugenio in Rome.
“Thanks to God's grace the faithful of the Prelature are working in these and other countries - said Bishop Javier Echevarría in his homily -. But the realisation of this dream was impeded by the absence of freedom in those lands. In 1955, while visiting Vienna, Saint Josemaria entrusted this intention to the intercession of the Mother of God invoking her with the ejaculation: Sancta Maria, Stella Orientis. filios tuos adiuva! He never tired of repeating this prayer although for many years no opening was seen… Then unexpectedly walls built by violence began to fall, and the beloved Rev Àlvaro del Portillo, started apostolic expansion of Opus Dei in those countries. First in Poland, then Slovakia, then the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the Baltic nations. In recent years it was the turn of Slovenia and Croatia. Today at last the time has come to start apostolic work in Russia. We thank God and we ask through the intercession of Our Lady and Saint Josemaria, God's assistance in this endeavour ”.
The Prelate of Opus Dei then underlined the need to sustain the numerous apostolic works all over the world to spread the Gospel: “For any apostolic work we must first of all put firm trust in God and have material means also at the service of the apostolate. So too the apostolic activities of Opus Dei need the collaboration of many, prayers and material assistance and in this way with God's grace and the generous help of many men and women of different social standing, all over the world, at the service of the Church we are engaged in an ever growing work of evangelisation”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 27/6/2007 - righe 31, parole 447)