A Vehicle for the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Belarus

Father Roman Murzicz has recently taken over as the pastor of the Parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Orsha, an industrial town in northeast Belarus, which is located 30 miles from the border with Russia.

This is a very lively parish. Children‘s holiday camps are regularly organized under an initiative called “Holidays with God,” where the children can relax, have fun and at the same time grow in their faith. Meanwhile, the altar servers’ group, which meets every month, organizes excursions and pilgrimages.

There are also parish volunteers who care for the needy, visit the sick and elderly in their homes, help the handicapped and support large families. Unemployment is biting deeper in the country, with more and more businesses are going bankrupt, leaving many people without work. Most of the families in the parish have to get by on a minimum income or by doing casual jobs and getting food from their vegetable gardens.

In addition to his parish in Orsha itself, Father Roman also looks after two smaller sub- parishes, one 5 miles and the other 14 miles away. In both outstations, he celebrates Sunday Mass every week, visiting the sick and taking them Holy Communion. He also gives catechetical instruction to the children every week.

Father Roman has no car of his own, so traveling is time-consuming and wearying. We are proposing to help fund the purchase of a car for him, at a cost of $17,300.

Will you help Father Roman obtain a vehicle for his parish, so that he can more easily reach and minister to his parishioners?

Aid to the Church in Need commits to invest your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church that we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.

Code: 439-01-29