The predominant Christian Church in central and Eastern Europe is the Orthodox Church. You may recall that the Orthodox Church resulted from the schism between the East and West in 1054. The Catholic Church continues to serve the faithful in these countries too, however, often with great difficulty. The annual collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, which we will take up next weekend, provides much-needed funding for the Catholics living in 28 countries from Albania to Uzbekistan. In Ukraine, one of these countries that has been so much in the news over these past three years, the Catholics continue to live their faith despite the ongoing war. Churches, rectories, convents, hospitals and schools that have been damaged are being rebuilt and old buildings are being upgraded. For example, in Lviv, which has suffered greatly from on and off attacks by the Russians, St. Stanislaw parish received $20,000 to repair its church after bombs damaged its roof. At the same time, the Catholic hospital in Lviv received $13,000 to purchase technological equipment and the Andrey Sheptysky Catholic School received $44,000 for the purchase and installation of a new heating system. Like the rest of its population, the Ukrainian Catholics are resilient and determined to keep practicing their faith even in the midst of the death and destruction that they face daily.
Ukraine is only one example of great need, however. Another example is the Church in Kyrgyzstan, one of many countries in this region that suffered greatly under communist rule for 70 years. Using funds that it received from this collection, it is now rebuilding its churches and schools as it resumes both its religious celebrations and social service outreach efforts to the impoverished as well as those suffering from various addictions.
In 2023, the $8.7 million that had been raised in the previous year from this annual collection was disbursed to support 329 projects throughout these 28 countries. Although Catholics make up only a small minority of the total population in these countries, they generously and courageously practice their faith and care for their neighbors in need.
Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan are but two examples of the 28 countries that are slowly recovering from these years of crushing communist oppression. Just as the economies were destroyed, so the communist ideology destroyed the soul of the people as it denied the value of human souls. Just as it was 30 years ago when this fund was begun under the direction of Pope St. John Paul II, the need continues to be great so please be as generous as you can when this collection is taken up next weekend.