Collection aids Church in Eastern, Central Europe

* Destroyed churches need to be rebuilt;

* Training of seminarians, nuns and lay catechists is necessary;

* Many people, especially those in Russia, live in places with no Catholic parishes or church resources available to them at all; and

* Younger Catholics have had no exposure to their rich liturgical, theological and spiritual heritage.

As a result of this great need throughout Europe, the bishops of the U.S. began a special collection in 1990 to help Catholics in Eastern Europe establish religious education programs; train seminarians and catechists; expand social ministries; rebuild ruined churches, convents and schools; and spread the Gospel through mass media efforts.

Since the inception of the Collection to Aid the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, nearly $60 million has been collected to aid more than 2,000 projects in 27 countries.

This year, the theme of this collection is "Enduring in Faith and Hope." It will take place in parishes throughout the Albany Diocese at all Masses on the weekend of May 26-27.

In his pulpit letter to parishes regarding the need for this collection, Bishop Howard Hubbard asked for the "generosity of the faithful in the U.S. to assist our sisters and brothers in Central and Eastern Europe in their efforts to revitalize the Church and transmit the faith to the younger generation."

He cited some examples of the work accomplished in the past ten years:

* Albania -- Our Lady of Good Council Hospital;

* Belarus -- prayer books and catechisms for religious education;

* Bosnia -- Catholic radio station;

* Croatia -- rebuilding of monastery and pastoral center in Vukovar;

* Czech Republic -- construction of an annex to a diocesan youth center in Prague;

* Estonia -- installation of heat and electric systems in the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul;

* Poland -- scholarships for priests studying in the U.S.;

* Russia -- establishment of a Russian language Catholic newspaper.

(05-24-01) [[In-content Ad]]