The Repair and Expansion of a Church in Albania

Our Lady’s month of May is also the month of the birth of Pope St. John Paul II, who had a profound devotion to the Mother of God. In Bathore, Albania, there is a parish dedicated to this great pope and saint.

Most of the 35,000 people who live in Bathore have migrated here from the mountainous northern regions of the country. Traditionally, the girls marry young and become homemakers, while many of the young men tend to drop out of school early, sitting around in the streets and drinking alcohol. Not infrequently, the parents are overwhelmed and cannot cope, and so their children are all too often left to their own devices.

The Catholic parish in the town is the one place where these young people can spend their time meaningfully. There is a building next to the church where children and young people can meet together in youth groups, and there are various other organized social and spiritual activities they can join. Unfortunately, however, the top floor of the building cannot be used at present, since it is in such a poor state of repair and is dangerous. And yet they urgently need the space.

We are planning to give $45,800 for the repair and extension of the building. There will be guest accommodation so Catholics from other areas can also come and take part in retreats and exercises. “Your help is vitally important for our mission,” writes Archbishop Arjan Dodaj of Tirana-Durres.

Will you help to bring light to Bathore, as Pope John Paul II hoped and prayed?

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