07.08.2007, [20:59] // UGCC // RISU.ORG.UA
Prokopyevsk, Russia – On 1 August 2007, the Greek Catholic Community in Prokopyevsk (Russia) had a new parish building for meetings and catechesis of adults, youth and children blessed by Bishop Joseph Werth of the Roman Catholic Novosibirsk Diocese and ordinary for all Greek Catholics in Russia.
As Redemptorist Fr. Dmytro Novosad reported to RISU, parish work in Prokopyevsk started in the 1940s when many clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) were exiled to Siberia.
A delegation from Ukraine headed by Fr. Petro Baran, provincial vicar of the Lviv Province of the Redemptorists, also took part in the official ceremonies on 1 August.
The Catholic community in Prokopyevsk numbers almost 200 Greek and 90 Roman Catholics. In addition to Prokopyevsk, pastoral work of the UGCC is conducted in nine other cities in Russia.
In 2003 sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph came to Siberia to catechize children and youth.
Now missionary ministry is conducted by three Redemptorist priests and two nuns of the Congregation of St. Joseph.