2nd March, 2000
The
Noticeboard
RUSSIA
2000
by Fr. Phillip
Andrews (from Douglas)
Dear Friends,
Once again I would like to apologise for the long delay in
dropping a line and filling you in on events in Russia. 1999 was
the busiest year yet and with so many things to do I was not even
able to send a few Christmas cards.
My ministry is now spread out over 675 km's. ranging from the
prisons to the City of Ulianovsk taking in the cities of Penza
and Syzran as well. The prisons that 1 visit are all in one small
area 450 km's south east of Moscow near a town called Zubovo
Poljana. Of a total of 16 different prisons I visit 7 within
which foreigners are serving sentences for a various range of
offences against the Russian law. In all there are about 460
foreigners (excluding Catholics from Armenia or other parts of
Russia) coming from over 50 different countries. Over two hundred
are Catholics but the Chaplaincy of the Holy Family extends to
helping and assisting all.
Thus, two times a month for three or four days I travel to this
area and visit the prisons. saying Mass. hearing confessions
administrating the sacrament of the sick. giving spiritual and
psychological counselling and delivering various forms of
humanitarian assistance. primarily medicines. Although these few
days are so rewarding pastorally and spiritually. they are rather
difficult with no proper place to sleep. no cooking facilities or
place to wash. Before visiting 1 buy some groceries to bring with
me. as there is not even a cafeteria in the area. I also carry
some white spirit in my car to disinfect my hands after coining
out of the prisons. Proper nourishment, rest and cleanliness are
essential particularly because of the tuberculosis crisis in the
Russian penitentiary system.
One of these prisons is a prison solely for foreigners and in
this prison we are nearly finished building a church. Remaining
are the windows and the doors as well as the benches and the
altar. Hopefully in Mar or June the Bishop will come and
consecrate it. In the prison there are religious activities on a
daily basis. be it a Legion of Mary group. Rosary groups. a
dedicated choir and a gospel-sharing group. The Chaplaincy also
seeks to promote other cultural and educational activities by
sponsoring the purchase of musical instruments and books.
particularly for learning Russian.
Due to the lack of proper vitamins and nourishment the health of
the prisoners suffers. The vast majority are very much alone,
their families isolated in third world countries and unable to
help. In Russia tuberculosis is rampant with about 10% of the
prison population suffering from this terrible disease. Thus,
visiting the sick and dying in hospital is a major priority. The
director of the hospital prison has asked that we help to build a
small inter-religious chapel within the hospital where several
prisoners die every week.
In the last year six foreigners have died away from home and
families, alone in a bleak place. In another prison not so far
from the hospital. those who suffer from drug addiction and Aids
are kept. So far I have only been allowed to visit these men only
once at Christmas time. Here there were seven men who are HIV
positive some with as many as eight more years to serve. Due to
the low sanitary conditions the slightest cold or infection is
fatal for these men. Although. the ministry to the prisoners is
draining enough other problems make the visit to Mordovia even
more difficult. Most of 1999 has been engaged in conflict with
the authorities in one or two of the prisons and with the secret
service. In one prison in particular I constantly voiced
opposition to that prisoners were beaten and that they were not
allowed to write letters in their own languages. This of course
was an uncomfortable situation for those responsible and used to
soviet ways. Thus. the doors were closed to visiting this prison
for several months. Almost simultaneously, the secret service
withdrew my permission to visit the prisons in late March
pertaining that I was doing favours for the international drug
Mafia. Only when I challenged their professionalism and pointed
out their ignorance of Catholic pastoral care and missionary work
were they embarrassed into renewing my permission. The problem
was quite simple. the Russian mentality does not understand doing
something for nothing. Thus, they took it for granted that the
money I spent on prisoners' needs and the interest in
re-establishing their contact with their families was Mafia
initiated.
The work with the prisoners extends 260 km's east into the parish
of the Immaculate Conception in Penza. In this small parish which
really only began to function 6 months ago several of the
parishioners help in the prison ministry. One lady. Ekaterina.
helps with all juridical issues and advice, another lady Tamara
who is a doctor has begun a small Caritas operation responsible
for buying medicines for the sick prisoners.
continued next week ...
COFFEE
MORNING
There is to be a Coffee Morning at St. Mary's Hall, Marmullane,
Passage West on Sunday 11th March, 2000 from 10.30am to 12.30pm.
All proceeds are in aid of Marymount Hospice and the morning will
include a super raffle and various stalls. All are welcome and
admission is £1 (including tea/coffee and scones).
All donations welcome.
ASTHMA
INFORMATION DAY
The Asthma Society of Ireland are holding an Asthma Information
Day on Saturday 25th March, 2000 at the Rochestown Park Hotel
from 11am to 4pm covering such topics as Children and asthma,
Women with asthma, all the latest inhaler devices, the triggers
that can provoke asthma, execise and asthma, monitoring your
asthma, and much more...
Admission is £5 per family, £2 per adult and £1 per child.
Books and leaflets will be available on the day. All are welcome.
For further information you can phone the Asthma Line on
1850 44 54 64.
CARRIGALINE
I/C/A/ NOTES
Talk and Display of patchwork and quilting by Emer Fahy on
Thursday 2nd March @ 8.30pm in the Carrigaline Community Complex.
All are welcome. The Millennium dinner is on Fri, 10th March @
Fernhill.
Phone: Noreen on 373861
Members interested in displaying crafts and works
can contact Carol on 863242
C'MON
EVERYBODY - ITS PEOPLE IN NEED TIME AGAIN
Details of the Cork Programme for the seventh People in Need
Telethon were announced today. The date is Friday, May 5th and a
£5 million target has been set for the year. Since the first
biannual People in Need Telethon twelve years ago, over £16
million has been distributed to hundreds of charitable
organisations throughout the country.
According to Mr. Matt McNulty, Chairman of the People in Need
Trust, "In 1998, £4.275 million was raised - the largest
amount raised from any Telethon. This amount represents
approximately £1.20 per head of population in the Republic and
highlights once again the extraordinary and unfailing generosity
of the Irish public."
The Policy or People in Need is that the money raised in a county
is distributed amongst charitable organisations in that county.
THE MONEY RAISED IN CORK, STAYS IN CORK! In 1998, 72
organisations benefited from grants of £380,110 raised and
distributed in Cork city and county.
Organisations that received funds in the Cork city area in 1998
include Mahon Community Association, the Glen Neighbourhood Youth
Project, the Cork Mental Health Association, Cerebral Palsy
Ireland Lavanagh Centre, Knocknaheeny Hollyhill Youth Project,
Good Sheperd Services, Cork Deaf Enterprises and the Cork Simon
Community.
Costs are kept to an absolute minimum, with companies donating
products and services as well as money and people of all ages,
from all walks of life volunteer their time and energy to
organise fundraising events from around the country.
Mary Dwyer, Manager of the Cork People in Need office is
appealing to volunteers to either organise a fundraiser or to
help co-ordinate events in their area. "This year, we hope
to meet our target, enhancing the quality of life of many people
in need in our society." said Mary Dwyer. "We are
planning plenty of exciting events between now and May 5th,
including the National "Granathon" Competition, which
will have its national finals in Leitrim. People are organising
swimathons, skipathons, fancy dress competitions, dinner dances,
discos, bed pushing between towns, truck convoys, male leg
waxing, etc. The fundraising ideas are only limited by individual
imagination." She added.
For a Telethon information pack, please contact Mary Dwyer at the
Cork People in Need Office on tel: (021) 272488, fax: (021)
272744 or email: cork@telethon.ie
ANTIQUE
FAIR COMES TO CARRIGALINE
On Sunday 5th March, Carrigaline's first Antiques & Fine Art
Fair of the year 2000 will take place at the Carrigaline Court
Hotel. This fair will afford the people of Carrigaline and the
surrounding area, the opportunity to purchase top quality
antiques and art objects at a fair price.
The exhibitors of this fair will offer a wide variety of fine
18th and 19th century furniture, porcelain, glass, coins,
jewellery, art clocks and other collectibles. There are also
items of Irish interest in the form of Irish Furniture. In all
ninety exhibitors will travel to Carrigaline from the four
provinces and this promises to be an event of real interest to
the public. It also offers an opportunity to young couples in the
burgeoning house market to make some very good investments as
well as enhancing their homes. Premier Antiques who have
organised the event are offering free advice and evaluation
service on anything you care to bring along between 3 and 4
o'clock on Sunday. As you can see the occasion has something of
interest for everyone. And for anyone who has only watched the
Antiques Road Show on TV this is a must. Mr Ted Hegarty of
Premier Antiques informs us that Carrigaline Fair is the first of
many, more are planned in various centres around West Cork during
the coming months. If you have any queries why not ring Ted at
021 374235. The fair will take place in the sumptuous function
room of the Carrigaline Court Hotel from 11am to 7pm, so come
early to avail of the best value. Carrigaline Premier Antiques
Fair - Sunday 5th March 11am - 7pm - Adm. £2
