Catholics in Kyrgyzstan – a forgotten people?

When I mentioned to people that I was visiting Kyrgyzstan, I would mostly be asked – where is Kyrgyzstan?

Bordering China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan it has the breathtakingly beautiful Tien Shan mountain range running across the country. A predominantly Muslim nation it contains many ethnic groups including Kyrgyzs, Uzbeks, Russians, Uyghurs, and Eastern Europeans. Although mostly peaceful, tensions do break out between the ethnic groups. Religious laws are also getting stricter, making life difficult for the Catholic priests. Most of them are only granted visas for 3 months, and some of them are currently living precariously without visas.

I arrived in the early hours of the morning to Bishkek airport to be greeted by oriental-looking soldiers wearing masks, fearful that we had brought swine flu with us. After a long session at the visa desk I was allowed into the country. Martin, our JM volunteer, and Brother Damian greeted me with big smiles and drove me to the Jesuit residence, situated in a communist-style drab residential block of flats.

After 3 hours of rest, we drove to the Catholic “Cathedral” situated in some back streets in the suburbs of Bishkek. Actually, it’s just a small chapel. The church in Kyrgyzstan has suffered from underfunding so consequently does not have a visible presence in the country. Apart from a couple of chapels available, most Catholics have to meet in each other’s small homes for Mass. Consequently the majority of the Kyrgyz population view the Catholic church as a sect, or have never heard of it.

The identity and faith of Catholics has been seriously attacked over the last 60 years during the Communist rule. The Catholic population mainly consists of ancestors of people who were forcibly exiled there by Stalin. They were not allowed to practice their faith openly, so Catholicism was forced underground, without the support of priests. Many of them are keen to resurrect their faith, but actually have little understanding of it and need to be catechised. Although there were some existing Catholic churches in Kyrgyzstan, they were all abandoned. Whilst in Dzalalabad, I came across a ruined Catholic church which is now, sadly, a kick-boxing stadium.

Some of the priests are seriously overworked, trying to meet all of the needs of the people and establishing a clear Catholic presence. A parish managed by one priest consists of around 30 outlying villages to which he has to minister (he has about 300 parishioners). Although there is one small chapel with room for 30 parishioners inside it and 15 people in the hallway, all of the other Masses take place in private houses. Because the parish is so disparate and has no central chapel for congregating, the priest has to drive 50 000 km each year, down potholed roads, to fulfil his duties as parish priest. Because of the logistics of running this parish, he has to spread out the Sunday Mass over several days.

There are many social problems experienced by the parishioners, and life is very hard for them. Single parent families, alcoholism, traumatised ex-soldiers who fought in Afghanistan are but some of the problems he has to deal with. But there is also a sign of great hope.

Summer camps run by the Jesuits for Catholic youth and interfaith camps for Muslims are inspiring a thirst for faith in the young people. Outreach work in prisons, work in orphanages and disabled homes are witnessing to Catholic social justice. Plans are afoot to build a Spirituality Centre for retreats and outreach work, as well as a couple of new chapels, providing sufficient funds are raised.

The Spirituality Centre will provide a much-needed base for the Youth Summer Camps, as well as holidays for the disabled and a place for retreats and for the Catholic Community to gather.

The outreach work, however, is difficult because conditions are extremely basic. Most places do not have WC’s or washrooms. The disabled homes do not have sufficient resources and frequently only one wheelchair is available, meaning that patients have to drag their bodies along the floor to get around.

During my visit I met people from a number of different cultures. I experienced exceptional hospitality and witnessed some tremendous works being done by the Jesuits.

One of the Parishes I came across has asked for your support in prayer. Please could you pray for the priests, brothers and Catholics in Kyrgyzstan.

If you would like to find out more about Catholics in Kyrgyzstan, please visit the website www.catholic-kyrgyzstan.org