Tweet
ARMENIA: MASS OFFERINGS FOR PRIESTS
Aid to the Church in Need
March 12 2014
The Armenians are proud of the fact that Christianity was declared the
state religion in their country as early as the year 301, thus making
it, they say, the first Christian nation in the world. Almost 95%
of the population belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church which, like
the Coptic Church in Egypt, is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
However, there is also the Armenian Catholic Church which, while also
celebrating its Liturgies according to the Armenian rite, remains in
communion with Rome and loyal to the Pope.
(A Catholic priest blessing a baby in an Armenian hospital © Aid to
the Church in Need)
In 1991 an eparchy (diocese) of the Armenian Catholic Church was
established in the country, which today ministers to all the Armenian
Catholic faithful in Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe. According
to the Pontifical Yearbook, there are some 420,000 Armenian Catholic
faithful living in these areas. In Armenia itself there are 48
Catholic parishes, in Georgia five, in Russia four. Archbishop
Raphael Minassian, in correspondence with the Catholic charity Aid
to the Church in Need (ACN), stressed that he and his priests faced
major challenges. "Now, after the end of the Soviet era, the people
need the constant presence of the priests in order to bring them the
Word of God in their everyday situations. They need to listen still,
to speak, to ask questions, get answers and understand what it means
to live their faith. But now there are many sects in the region,
who exploit the difficult economic and social situation to lead
the people astray", he wrote. But the truth is that, because of the
dire economic situation, the Catholic Church herself scarcely has the
resources to provide this much-needed pastoral care for the faithful -
who moreover live scattered across a wide area.
The archbishop has asked ACN for Mass offerings so that he can at least
provide some support for his priests. As in many other countries,
Mass offerings are the sole source of income that the priests have
available to them. Having a Holy Mass celebrated for a particular
intention, such as for the soul of a departed loved one, is already
a long-standing tradition in the Church. The offering, or financial
gift, that the faithful give the priest in return is by no means a
"payment" but rather a gesture of loving support and gratitude for the
priest who, through the words of Consecration, makes the Sacrifice
of Jesus Christ once more present on the altar. For many priests,
however, this small gift is vital to their survival. In his letter
Archbishop Minassian wrote: "If we do not receive help from you now,
we are risking our mission in these countries." ACN has passed on to
him 1080 of Mass offerings to help his 18 priests.
The vital work of Catholic charities like Aid to the Church In Need
provide a lifeline to the Church wherever she is poor, persecuted
or threatened. Please help our work by donating online or send your
donation to Aid to the Church in Need, PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills
NSW 2153. Ph: (02) 9679-1929
http://members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/1394596508.html
Aid to the Church in Need
March 12 2014
The Armenians are proud of the fact that Christianity was declared the
state religion in their country as early as the year 301, thus making
it, they say, the first Christian nation in the world. Almost 95%
of the population belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church which, like
the Coptic Church in Egypt, is one of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
However, there is also the Armenian Catholic Church which, while also
celebrating its Liturgies according to the Armenian rite, remains in
communion with Rome and loyal to the Pope.
(A Catholic priest blessing a baby in an Armenian hospital © Aid to
the Church in Need)
In 1991 an eparchy (diocese) of the Armenian Catholic Church was
established in the country, which today ministers to all the Armenian
Catholic faithful in Armenia, Georgia and Eastern Europe. According
to the Pontifical Yearbook, there are some 420,000 Armenian Catholic
faithful living in these areas. In Armenia itself there are 48
Catholic parishes, in Georgia five, in Russia four. Archbishop
Raphael Minassian, in correspondence with the Catholic charity Aid
to the Church in Need (ACN), stressed that he and his priests faced
major challenges. "Now, after the end of the Soviet era, the people
need the constant presence of the priests in order to bring them the
Word of God in their everyday situations. They need to listen still,
to speak, to ask questions, get answers and understand what it means
to live their faith. But now there are many sects in the region,
who exploit the difficult economic and social situation to lead
the people astray", he wrote. But the truth is that, because of the
dire economic situation, the Catholic Church herself scarcely has the
resources to provide this much-needed pastoral care for the faithful -
who moreover live scattered across a wide area.
The archbishop has asked ACN for Mass offerings so that he can at least
provide some support for his priests. As in many other countries,
Mass offerings are the sole source of income that the priests have
available to them. Having a Holy Mass celebrated for a particular
intention, such as for the soul of a departed loved one, is already
a long-standing tradition in the Church. The offering, or financial
gift, that the faithful give the priest in return is by no means a
"payment" but rather a gesture of loving support and gratitude for the
priest who, through the words of Consecration, makes the Sacrifice
of Jesus Christ once more present on the altar. For many priests,
however, this small gift is vital to their survival. In his letter
Archbishop Minassian wrote: "If we do not receive help from you now,
we are risking our mission in these countries." ACN has passed on to
him 1080 of Mass offerings to help his 18 priests.
The vital work of Catholic charities like Aid to the Church In Need
provide a lifeline to the Church wherever she is poor, persecuted
or threatened. Please help our work by donating online or send your
donation to Aid to the Church in Need, PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills
NSW 2153. Ph: (02) 9679-1929
http://members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/1394596508.html