|
Date |
|
Event |
|
Spring 1991 |
|
Mr. Andre Popok, young Soviet naval officer from Kiev,
converts to Roman Catholicism after reading restricted religious literature
as part of his political indoctrinating course to become Communist political officer. He is sent to Vladivostok, headquarters of Soviet
Pacific Naval Fleet, in summer 1991, when he graduates from naval
academy.
|
| Summer 1991 |
|
Andre Popok and friends put ads in local newspapers
in Vladivostok searching for other Roman Catholics in order
to establish Catholic community. Once formed, Catholic community of Vladivostok
writes to newly appointed Bishop Werth in Novosibirsk asking for priest to be
sent to reopen parish. They also apply for government registration as
legal religious organization. |
| Nov. 1991 |
|
After visiting Bishop Werth in Novosibirsk to inquire
about possibility of serving in Vladivostok, Fr. Myron Effing enters
Vladivostok illegally to get information about Catholic community.
(City technically still closed to all nonresidents without special
permit, so he had to pay small fine.) Fr. Myron meets Andre Popok and newly gathered Catholics. |
| Nov. 10, 1991 |
|
First Mass celebrated, in front
of cathedral (still an archive building and owned by state). First
Mass on parish property in over 60 years. |
| Nov. 15, 1991 |
|
Bishop Werth accepts applications of
Fr. Myron and
Br. Daniel Maurer to be first resident Catholic clergy in
Vladivostok in 50 years. |
| Dec. 21, 1991 |
|
On instruction from Bishop Werth, Br. Daniel is ordained deacon in Benton Harbor, Michigan, for service to Church in Asian
part of Russia. |
| Feb. 11, 1992 |
|
Fr. Myron and Deacon Daniel arrive in
Vladivostok to stay. |
| Feb. to Dec. 1992 |
|
Sunday and holy day Masses celebrated
in small hall on ground floor of Palace of the Pioneers (Pioneers
are former Communist youth organization). |
| Pentecost Sunday 1992
Sept. 21, 1992 |
|
First Baptisms held in parish since
the return of religious freedom. Fr. Myron baptizes 4 new
parishioners.
Br. Daniel ordained priest in
Vladivostok by Bishop Werth. He is second Catholic priest to be ordained openly in Russia
since Communist revolution, and perhaps second Catholic priest ever to be ordained with prayer of consecration in Russian language.
|
| Dec. 25, 1992, to Dec. 25, 1993 |
|
Sunday and holy day Masses celebrated
in larger hall of House of Trade Unions due to increased
attendance.
|
| Sept. 15, 1993 |
|
Decision made by Primorsky Krai state legislature to
return Vladivostok cathedral to ownership of Catholic parish.
|
| Oct. 10, 1993 |
|
First Mass held inside church
building since closing of parish in 1930. Archive still occupies
building, but top (third) floor of central nave is cleared so that
Mass can be held inside. TV coverage of historic occasion provided
by government TV channel.
|
| Jan. 1, 1994 |
|
On titular feast of the parish (Most
Holy Mother of God), pastor Fr. Myron receives key to building
from director of archive and celebrates Mass with parishioners.
(Since then, Masses and services have been celebrated in it every
day.) |
| June 26, 1994 |
|
First solemn Mass with ordinary
Bishop Werth in the historic cathedral. |
| Aug. 2, 1998 |
|
Sisters of Charity of St. Ann (HCSA; foundation and
mother house in Saragosa, Spain) arrive in Vladivostok to begin their first
community in the former Soviet Union: Sr. Alicia Gonzalo, superior; Sr. Madvi Menon;
and visiting mother general Sr. Julia Lumbreras. Three more young
sisters soon follow. |
| May 2000 |
|
Three Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartre (SPC) from the Seoul,
Korea, province arrive to begin their first temporary community in former Soviet Union: Sr. Gemma Seo, superior; Sister Theofilo Kim; Sr.
Teresa Kang. Two more sisters from South Korea arrive in the next two years. |
| 2001 |
|
Brother Oleg Yelcheninov becomes
first novice new religious community, Canons Regular of Jesus the
Lord. Makes first profession of private vows Dec. 12, 2000.
Spanish Sisters of Charity of Saint Ann receive their first
Russian vocation candidature as a novice, Vladivostok parishioner
Olga Nemchinova. Within a few years she is followed by two more
parishioners.
|
| 2002 |
|
After ten years of Catholic presence
in Vladivostok, through continued evangelization and baptismal
preparation programs Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church has
475 members. After that with the Russian Far East losing
population the number of parishioners stabilizes as old
parishioners leave or die and new parishioners are added each
year, and as other parishes are divided off from the main parish.
By 2002 the parish has produced 5 vocations to sisterhood in
three different orders, and 2 to religious orders of men. |
