This New Church is “a sign that the Catholic Community is Alive, that it Wants to Grow, and that it Has a Future.”
Newsroom (31/05/2023 15:00, Gaudium Press) On May 20, Bishop Ante Jozić, Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Belarus, consecrated the church of St. Francis in New Boravaya, one of the newest and most modern neighborhoods in Minsk. It is the first shrine he consecrates during his diplomatic mission in Belarus (Belarus).
In his homily, Bishop Jozić stressed the role of the church as “a sacred place in which God is closest to man and in which man approaches God through the sacraments. The new church needs missionaries who will bring the word of God to all people of good will, heal spiritual diseases, and promote peace between the generations.” At the end of the homily, the Apostolic Nuncio asked the Mother of God to accompany and explain the words of Jesus that will be announced in the new church to the new Belarusian generations.
The date of the consecration was most likely not chosen at random, since on May 20, the Church celebrates the liturgical memory of St. Bernardine of Siena, a 15th century Friar Minor. The new church is entrusted to the Franciscan family, Friars Minor Capuchin. Its construction took eight years and was carried out by the efforts of the local faithful and their parish priests.
The consecration of the church of St. Francis of Assisi is “a sign that the Catholic community is alive, that it wants to grow, and that it has a future,” said parish priest Father Jan Sadoŭski, Capuchin
History of the Catholic Church in Belarus
In Belarus, the Catholic Church is organized into a single province, the ecclesiastical province of Minsk-Mohilev, subject directly to the universal jurisdiction of the Pope. A minority in a mostly Orthodox country, the Church gathers almost one million faithful, or 14% of the population, according to the Church Statistical Yearbook. These Catholics are often of Polish origin.
In the current Belarusian territory, Christianity was introduced in the 10th century after the baptism of Princess Olga. After the schism of 1054, the country became predominantly Orthodox.
In 1596, some Ukrainian and West Russian bishops reaffirmed their union with Rome. By the end of the 18th century, the members of this union represented the majority of the Belarusian population.
Religious Persecution
In 1795, this country was annexed to Russia, marking the beginning of persecution against Catholics. Between 1830 and 1870, almost all Catholic convents and educational centers were closed. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Orthodox have again become the majority.
The post-war formation of the Soviet Republic of Belarus and its annexation to the Soviet Union led to an increase in persecution against Catholics. Almost all churches were closed, many members of the Catholic clergy were killed or imprisoned. This persecution reached its peak in the 1930s under the Stalinist regime.
After the fall of the USSR, the Belarusian Church gradually rose from the ashes. Relations between the Holy See and Belarus were re-established in 1992.
With information from Vatican news
Compiled by Florence MacDonald
