USCCB - (AEE) - Our Work in Belarus

Our Work in Belarus

Since 1990, generous American Catholics have provided millions of dollars for projects which were submitted to our office by the bishops of Belarus. These efforts have helped the Church in Belarus rebuild itself and begin to live and serve in freedom. The following are just a few examples of past, ongoing, and new projects sponsored through our office.

With your help, we have …

… Helped provide a convent for the Franciscan Sisters in Slonim
With their new convent, the sisters can fulfill their mission of service to the poor, youth work, and evangelization.

… Supported production of video journal for Church in Belarus
This project is one of many in Belarus that allow the Church to reach out to people through television and the mass media.

…Purchased vehicles for priests and religious throughout the country
The vehicles make it possible for priests to travel to remote villages to bring the sacraments. Religious sisters now can widen their outreach area and engage in their ministry in places where this was not possible before.

… and we continue to …

… Support furnishing and construction of Dominican monastery and school in Nowogrodek
We are helping provide furniture, equipment, computers for classrooms and lecture halls, laundry and kitchen facilities, and more, to support this important educational apostolate near the home of the great poet Adam Mickiewicz. Request submitted: $100,000

… Contribute to completion and renovation of parish church in Slonim
This project provides all the essentials for worship and service in the parish, from fundamental structural renovation to acquiring frescoes and statues of Peter and Paul, a tabernacle, choir loft, and bell. Request submitted: $40,000

… Cover running costs for J & K Studio in Baranovitchi
By providing funds for electricity, heating, salaries, and development of cutting edge equipment, we help this studio serve Catholic music groups and singers with services for recording, mastering, dubbing for film, composing, burning CDs, and live recording. Request submitted: $12,900

We hope in the future to …

… Maintain support of Catholic TV program, “The Symbol of Faith”
The Catholic Television Center of Grodno continues to broadcast high-quality Catholic programs, such as “The Symbol of Faith,” which was recently extended to an hour and half of air time. Our funding of electricity, staff, and transportation helps make this possible. Request submitted: $20,000

… Provide a heating system for the seminary in Belarus
Located in a 17th-century Bernardine monastery, the Grodno seminary is forming 102 seminarians for service. The current heating system is ineffective, unable to heat the second floor and expensive to run. Some seminarians have even gotten sick because of it. We can provide an efficient, cost-effective system for them. Request submitted: $100,000

…Support construction of a church in Mogilov
The Catholic parish in this town of almost 400,000 was registered in 2002. It is entrusted with the pastoral care of 160,000 residents.

…Support construction of a curia building in Vitebsk
This is the newest diocese in Belarus. Once a great center of the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe, this town now needs all its ecclesiastical buildings built anew.