On 24 September 2023, in the parish of St Anna in Ekaterinburg and in our community, we celebrated the Jubilee of 25 years of our apostolic ministry in Russia. In preparing this Celebration, we had in mind that we continue the mission commissioned to us by St John Paul II, during the General Chapter of our Congregation in Rome, in 1992. We are on the path that nine Pallottine Sisters have gone before us, leaving gratitude in the hearts of the people.
We were very happy to celebrate the Jubilee with our Provincial Superior Sr Iwona Nadziejko and Sr Ludwika Jastrzębska, the Mission Coordinator. The visit was also connected with a provincial visitation in our community. We express our gratitude to the Sisters for the meetings full of peace and sisterly unity, and for their help in preparing the Jubilee celebration.
The solemn Holy Mass, presided over by Bishop Joseph Werth, Ordinary of the Diocese of Novosibirsk, was celebrated in St Anne’s Parish Church at 12.00 p.m. The concelebrants were: Fr Anton Gsel, parish priest, Fr Sergey Davydov, parish vicar, Fr Jan Vysotsky SAC, parish priest in Chelyabinsk, and Fr Kirill Griegoriev. The Eucharist was attended by a large number of parishioners and some guests: the Daughters of Charity from Nizhniy Tagil and parishioners from Chelyabinsk.
During his homily, Bishop Joseph gave heartfelt thanks to all the sisters who have served at St Anne’s parish. He expressed his gratitude to the Congregation for their contribution to the development of the community of the Church in our diocese, and hoped for a continued long-term collaboration.
The jubilee celebration was enriched by the sacrament of Confirmation, conferred by the Bishop on three of our parishioners who were incorporated into the community of the Catholic Church this year during Easter. The event of Pentecost, which stands at the centre of this sacrament, transported us to the Pallottine Cenacle, in which we abide with St Vincent Pallotti and from which we leave with the apostolic mission.
Before the concluding blessing, Sr Iwona Nadziejko, Provincial Superior, addressed the Bishop and the concelebrating priests with words of gratitude for their long collaboration in the apostolate, recalling all the Sisters who have served and are serving in this parish, thanking them for fulfilling the mission entrusted to the Congregation. The parishioners also thanked Msgr Joseph for coming to our parish for this Celebration, presiding at Mass and administering the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Words of gratitude for the apostolic ministry of 25 years were also directed to us. When we were listening to these words, our hearts and the hearts of all the participants in the Eucharistic were filled with emotion, joy and gratitude.
After Mass, we lined up in front of the church for a commemorative photo.
The parish celebration was completed by meeting together in the parish hall over tea. Here Msgr Joseph told the story of our arrival in Russia in 1998. About the meeting with the Sisters in Rome, the anticipation of the Sisters and the joy at our arrival in Yekaterinburg.
The exhibition we prepared depicted the Sisters who ministered in the parish, as well as our international character. We marked the communities of priests, sisters, brothers and lay members of UAC on the world map. Our hearts were filled with joy. The Pallottine family lives and ministers in all corners of the earth.
After the parish celebration, we went with the invited guests – priests and sisters – to our flat for a festive lunch. Conversations, memories and sharing of experiences filled the time. The guests returned to their homes and Msgr Joseph still remained with us. It was a very cordial meeting.
Sr Iwona Nadziejko and Sr Ludwika Jastrzębska returned to Poland on Tuesday 26 September. And we, the two Pallottine sisters in Ekaterinburg, set out anew on our apostolic journey with gratitude to God and people, strengthened by the jubilee graces.
Text: Sr Dorota Szubstarska, SAC and Sr Irina Chicherova, SAC
Photos (6): Julia Porotnikowa
