Aid to the Church in Need: RUSSIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS MEET WITH THEIR SPONSORS IN GERMANY

RUSSIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS MEET WITH THEIR SPONSORS IN GERMANY

Posted by Press release on 25/11/2002, 11:24 am
Message modified by board administrator 26/11/2002, 2:49 pm

Press Release
RUSSIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS MEET WITH THEIR SPONSORS IN GERMANY
Germany November 21. This week the four Catholic bishops from Russia met with representatives of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Renovabis and the office to Aid the Catholic Church in Central and Eastern Europe of the U. S. bishops’conference at ACN’s international headquarters in Germany.
The bishops informed their sponsors about aid projects that already are finished and discussed new projects and other issues of importance such as support for Russia’s only Catholic seminary in St. Petersburg and the nationwide Catholic weekly “Svet Evangelija.”
The bishops also discussed national Church celebrations for Catholics in Russia and voiced concern about the low living standards of Catholic priests in the country.
The sponsors were interested in the general situation of the country especially with regards to a new draft law regarding foreigners. They also learned about the development of Church-run mass media, social activities of the Church, the formation of seminarians and the financial situation of the Church today and for the future.
The bishops explained that – regarding Catholic-Orthodox relationships – the situation continues to be difficult but that there are meetings with individual Orthodox bishops and that last week Orthodox representatives took part in a congress of Catholic University professors.
“There is hope for the future,” the bishops stated unanimously. The prelates also expressed their gratitude to ACN and the other sponsor organizations for the support they continue to receive and thanked ACN for its hospitality during the meeting.
In conclusion they gave their best wishes for the up-coming 90th birthday (Jan. 17, 2003)of Father Werenfried van Straaten, the “Beacon Priest” and founder of Aid to the Church in Need.
Photo: The four Catholic bishops from Russia during Mass in the chapel of Aid to the Church in Need’s international headquarters in Germany on Nov. 20, 2002
From left to right: Mgr Clemens Pickel, Mgr Joseph Werth, Mgr Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, Mgr Jerzy Mazur
For further information please contact
Information Department
Ph/Fax: 02 9679-1929
email: info@aidtochurch.org
website: www.aidtochurch.org

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