Mission To Magadan - February 2008 Update

The other day I got my latest newsletter from Magadan Mission. So, it is time for an update. Naturally, this issue focuses on the events celebrating Christmas.

1 of the events was a retreat on Love & Forgiveness. 40 members of the parish attended this retreat put on by Fr. Stanislaw Pamakala, SJ from Novosibirsk. The retreat bore much fruit. According to Fr. Michael it enables the people of his parish to enter "Christmas with joy and a fresh prayful desire to celebrate Christ's birth." Another fruit was the renewed focus on the reception of the Sacrament of Confession.

Fr. Stanislaw also lead a study for the 14 leaders in their Leadership School. He also put on a 3-day silent retreat for the parish staff. Each day's theme was a parable of Jesus.

Another article shared the story of the work of 1 Magadan parishoner & his wife to improve the conditions in the local prison's visitation room. The parishoner is a former prioner himself & is familiar with the overall horrible condition of the prison system. Working on the visitaion room is just a part of their ongoing work to bring "the love of Christ to the prisoners & their families through an unselfish act of mercy." The Church is helping to fix up the room by supplying paint, a shower & toilet plus other basic building materials. The prisoners are providing the labor.

There was also an article sharing the work that the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul are doing in Magadan. They help out by visiting the homebound, they help with the monthly g"Gathering of the Repressed". This gathering ministers to Soviet prison camp survivors by providing them with a hot meal & the healing presence of Christ.

As always, I present this information in order to ask you to help out with this work of "Preaching the Gospel in Far East Russia". Even a few dollars can go far in helping their work. There are several ways to donate.

If you want to send a check it needs to be sent to the Archdiocese of Anchorage. A check sent directly to Magadan would be worthless as there is no way for them to cash it. Make out the check to Magadan Mission & mail it to the following address:

Mission to Magadan

Archdioces of Anchorage
225 Cordova Street
Anchorage AK 99501-2409

or you can donate online here.

Packages can be sent directly to Magadan. However postage is VERY expensive. & there are limits on how much you can send per package. The total value of a package has to be less than $90. A US Customs form must be filled out also. & it takes up to 8 weeks for delivery of the package, 2 weeks for a letter. (Call your local post office for rates.)

To send a package or letter:

RUSSIA

685000 Magadan

Glavpochtant, Box 171

Fr. Michael Sheilds (or)

Fr. David Means

(NOTE: only use 1 name or the other NOT both.)

You can also e-mail either priest:

FrMike@MagadanCatholic.stopspam.org

or

mailto:FrDave@magadancatholic.stopSpam.org?body=Don .
(Of course if you are a person, leave the stopspam out of the address! Thats to prevent web trawlers from finding their addresses and putting them on spam lists. Thanks for understanding.)

You can send a prayer request via the web here.

Papa Benedetto in his 2008 Lenten Message called on us to give alms. This is an excellent way to do so.