Eucharist in East

For many children in the world the first Communion is very solemn and beautiful event. It happens for that occasion some kind of competition of nice dressing and strong exams from catechism.

God fathers are planning which gifts by to children and priests ever busy to defend sacral atmosphere in conditions of big parties which happen after first communion and children may forget what was more important: holly Mass or the party and gifts? They think also how to defend that holly day from alcoholic adventures of adults during the party.

In the east the situation is totally different. Yes priests and sisters try to import from native countries nice dressings or explain local people how to prepare them, but in our conditions much more adult people come to first communion without any special atmosphere or celebrations. It happens that some person is trained individual way as part of training before obtaining other sacraments like matrimony, or by occasion of someone's of relative's burial.

Baptism, even Confession has for east people much attraction, Eucharist is still difficult to accept as urgent need of soul. For some people in popular understanding, Holly Communion "prichastiye" means, drinking of wine.

I. SILENT RIVER DON

1. Sister Teresa

In Rostov on Don responsible for preparing children to the First Communion was Sister Teresa native from Byelorussia village Traby or Taboryszki. She was small and smart like "watch bomb", you never know when may explode. People were creating many pseudonyms for her because real name was insufficient characteristic of hers. We were collaborating nicely until my own problems started to be a reason for conflicts. She was so sure in her missionary zeal that she may even yell on bishop himself if she was sure he has no right.

We were living on peripheries of big diocese and of course the people in Moscow was not caring much what is happening in the "jungle" , Moscow had ever enough own problems. To be a Bishop in such condition, the same, to be a priest or nun, it is daily conflict of conscience and daily compromise. Also compromises with open enemies of missions which dress themselves in sutana and call themselves believers, I mean Moscow Orthodox hierarchy. Calling them believers in my understanding is nonsense.

2. Thousends of candidates.

In Bataysk on Don we were having few thousands of candidates. Children were very enthusiastic with us. In our sister house were visiting almost all the children from the 22-th school and these children were telling the others about our chapel. It were the children from 100 000 city. We were asking all of them to have written permissions from their fathers to visit us, also I was asking them to know a prayer Our Father.

We got thousands of rosaries from Moscow, also big number of small icons and medals. To get them children have to know another prayers like Holly Mother and 10 commandments.

Local Cossacks with inspiration of Orthodox priest came and took me to their office, to talk with their ataman. They were telling me that I am not registered as a priest to have some activities in Bataysk city, so first I have to register like other churches do. But the best will be if I "go home to Poland".

Children were attracted seeing small "onion form" tower and the cross. The school was just across the street, the cross was seeing from the school windows. Inside the chapel was beautiful full size copy of Holly Mary of Fatima.

Priests in the neighbor and even Bishop were telling me that better to stop for some time my missionary zeal, to not provoke new attacks, and to concentrate in big city Rostov, where was legally registered catholic parish.

These days I got to know Mrs. Galina Mikhaylovna, grand-mother of Oleg and Katia. They were children of her handicapped daughter Irina. In the future they were my most active parishioners. Galina was working in KGB in many prisons as teacher. She still have many soldier habits even retired. She got many signatures from local people sympathizing to us. They helped me together Galina and Irina to register our community in August 1993 in Bataysk.

Earlier they were going to police asking defend us from Cossacks. Cossacks were criticized in local administration and conflict finished for some time. First we were having hundreds children visiting us daily now we were having only few.

3. Candidates in Rostov.

Same time in Rostov we were having 5 candidates. Two African orphans and three homeless Armenian children. Armenians came from Baku and were living in the tenth at the front of local regional administration. Father of family was born on Don, native Cossack with nice mustaches. His wife Armenian was from native from Azerbaijan, city Baku or Sumgait. It this second city happened tragedy, because Azeri people killed some Armenian Women and they new born babies just in the hospital. That family as many refugees in these times, were asking some place to stay. They got some material help in our parish, during few weeks I was offering them all the money from Sunday Mass. Perhaps it was encouraging them to participate in our meetings weekly.

When we have moved from Children Theatre to Studenczeska Roshcha (the people call this way Park of Korney Czukowski), all of them, mix blood African (children of some students) girls and Armenian refugees disappeared for ever. After 3 years I saw one of Armenian girls on the street, she tried to talk with Sister Teresa, but she didn't recognize the child.

Teresa was these days tired because of permanent conflicts in monastery and with me also. I was told once that first generation of missionary people is given on the field like the "smelling animal shit" to make that land more fertile. It has to destruct and smell to give fruit in next generations.

Our job was exhausting and result was small or none. In such condition were our mission activities in 1996 after 3 years of really hard job and suffers. Never mind the result, if fact we were enjoying the picture of nicely dressed like angels children in First Communion dressings. Same time came to us General Superior of sisters and my father to congratulate us for such humble efforts. It may look funny but after being pressed by Cossacks we start to be happy even in case of doubtful small success.

4. Small success.

In Bataysk from so many candidates, finally to the first Communion we accepted only 4 children: Maxim, his brother... Lonya, Denis and Witya. The first two boys has no first confession, because they were baptized same very day. My father was their God father, I have impression he was proud. He even asked me to be confessed, it was the only case these days I was asked by own father to such sacrament. My mother was supposed to be 100 times more zealous but she never had such idea in her head, to be confessed by own son.

In some sense Russia helped to convert my father. I saw in old documents of my father something made like postcard, but in fact it was my fathers First Communion Memory. He told me that after their house in Mleczowka (the village close to parish church in Syberia town) burned it was the only thing which remained from fire. Now he had opportunity to have back all his childhood memories, from his own First Communion.

The house was I was staying these days with old Byelorussian lady Valentina, was perhaps similar like his own in childhood before destroyed.

5. Jesus in the kitchen.

Central point in adoring Eucharist except Holly Communion may be nice procession, big congress with multitude of scientists or silent adorations. We were trying to adore Eucharist the best way possible.

Tabernacle was in sisters' house from very beginning. Sisters took him from their cancelled monastery in Lipce of Reymont; it is nice example that if one monastery disappear in one coin of the world the another one is appearing in his place. Same time we got from Sochi priest another Tabernacle, new one.

In our house which was bayed in hurry for cheapest price, there was no phone, no toilets or canalization, even no water; the doors have no keys, so the second tabernacle was serving us as place for hiding money. Together with sisters was living also young couple with a baby, because homeless.

In October 1992 I was supposed to go Poland for some important meetings with sponsors and superiors and sisters were very afraid to stay such a place. They were asking only one thing. What about Eucharist. There will be no Holly Mass, but because we have tabernacle, you may take Communion daily, during Rosary prayer. Such was my idea. I consecrated them sufficient number of hosts which were staying in the kitchen in tabernacle. They were cooking on electric heat in another room.

Parishioners during two weeks were having meetings with sisters in Children's Theatre and even did not realize lack of priest, because obligatory Sunday Mass was for them still just theory.

During Advent time I proposed to the people to have also additional meetings in Wednesdays and Friday. In Bataysk sisters were asking me monthly "one hour" adoration in monstrance. It was difficult to stay one hour on knees, but I was following their customs. Same style was Rosary prayers in October. Just these days first children were looking throw the window what these sisters are doing. They invited them inside to know better.

6. Fourteen nails

During Lent time, I took monstrance to Rostov. We were thinking that in Theatre will be difficult to organize adorations, but I got idea to put 14 nails on the walls of theatre and to hang temporary Cross Way stations. I was taking in my hands Monstrance with holly Host and people was venerating Jesus just walking in procession from on station to another. Monstrance was beautiful and was making big impression on Armenians. Doing these processions I was remembering my walking in the fields with Zabiele children on my first parish in Poland. We were putting in open air old crosses from cemetery.

These days I got prayer books with the same style poetries for each of station, so that we were able to sing for any station some kind of meditation.

The most central moment of adoring Jesus in Eucharist is Corpus Christi, but that day I was absent. I was asking parishioners to make simple procession from Lenin's monument to the piece of land given us by local authorities for future church.

In summer time, during our travel to Poland I was training parishioners to have in mind than here in Ukraine, which we were crossing, are many churches with Eucharistic Jesus, so we can make adoration by eyes of imagination.

7. Retreat House

In spring 1995 the house in Bataysk was ready so that sisters may move in the 2-nd floor and old house was serving as chappel. In the first floor of new house was kitchen, loundry, toilets even room for the guests and for the priest.

That time we decided to organize first retreats for children. First of all we were wishing to have First Communion children from outstations. Which have never good opportunity to hear long classes from Catechism.

Some children from Kalmyk Republic came and some from Taganrog. Perhaps 15 children were living with us on temporary beds, or just on the floor. Boys on the first floor with me, girls with sisters on the second floor.

Holly Mary of Fatima again played special role influencing children very much. In Russia, spring vacasions mostly happen in the last weeks of lent, just near the Palm Sunday, so it was really good time to have such a meeting. The first group Kalmyk children get first Communion in Easter time just thanks to these retreats.

8. Procession to the sunrise.

It is important to explain, that the way of celebrating Corpus Christi day as simple walk- procession on the streets of the city, was good experience which I implanted later in many places also as special element of resurrection Mass in Easter.

It was very nice in Taganrog, the city of Czajkowski brother. We have our meetings during many years in Czajkowski house. Just on the top of the hill near the picturesque stairs to the beach of Azov See. About 200 stairs we were using during many years for same eater walk. Procession was walking in the east direction about 6 AM so the sun was beautifully risen at that very moment and air was fresh, we were the only people on the street singing litanies and rosary.

One year we were more experienced people so we decided to go on the old church square and we were praying on the knees to ask returning of the building to our community.

Same processions I was doing later in Kamchatka from Sovietskaya Street up to "Hill of Love" where the cemetery was and the chapel in memory of French and British soldiers which graves were there. It happened in similar scenery, same story, and same conditions: picturesque Harbor, deep morning, stairs, and small number of parishioners, monstrance and Eucharistic Jesus.

9. Vocation to be "chekist" in secret service.

In 1996 finally at second effort, we made blessing of chapel in Batajsku, also church in Nowoczerkassk. Restoration of that church was Salezians duty. My friend doctor Alla Borisovna Dolina, was parish manager these days. Her first profession was a doctor, but she had also the second vocation. Similar as Galina Mikhaylovna in Bataysk, she was secret service worker.

Her two faces soul is typical for soviet people schizophrenia. She has polish roots, but she was trained to hide her ancestors' story. She is loyal to them belonging by baptism and by heart to Catholic Church, but she also accepts magic and Orthodox as her own experience. She is very educated person, but she may same time mix all these things, very poor personality.

In addition she tries to be loyal to all atheistic beliefs, celebrations and fests like 9-th May, 7-th November etc. I spent with her many difficult moments, visiting many offices, lawyers, going on trials. I was doing it ever when my Salezian fellow priest was absent on vacasions and I was changing him. Even I resigned myself from Rostov and Novocherkassk I was ever happy visiting there and occasionally working.

After 8 years from that victory in Novocherkassk, Alla Borisovna came to me on Ukraine helping in returning another church in Artemovsk. In that city she got marry and started as a doctor first steps in salt mines...before she left to Russia.

Visiting me she also gave me detailed report about ceremony of consecration of church in Rostov on Don. Construction was built during 10 years on the place and according the project which was made during my staying there in 1993. I hope our humble prayers in Corpus Christi in 1993 were helpful for such a nice result.

10. Rise Christians

Returning back to Bataysk I wished continue the story about some children which got First Communion same days. They became Christians thanks to Don Franco.

In 1995 we get container with human aid just in st. Anthony day. It was huge container. We were giving gifts for people around, during long period of time. Some children were attracted so much that spent all the days with Sister Teresa.

It was most poor family from which had perhaps seven children in one house. They were coming together with their mother always asking some gifts.

Sister was slowly teaching them catechism. Four of them in 1996 were ready to take Communion. It was also first anniversary of Don Franco death. After Sister Teresa's moving came new sisters which cancelled her habits to give food, so the children also disappeared.

I got first time in my life real example of so called "rise Christians", telling the truth, the last group of first communion children was very similar as the first. These African and Armenian girls were attracted more by our generosity than by our teachings.

In our chapel was permanent parishioner Ukraine lady Valentina with her Korean son Stas. She was good parishioner but sometime she disappeared. Galina Mikhaylovna asked the boy why he does not come, he answered nicely "because they stop to give us gifts".

Children have nice hearts and they ever tell truth, but fathers manipulate their faith and their babies permitting or forbidding them to visit church according own material expectations.

11. Children from Salsk Steppe.

After ceremonies in Novocherkassk and in Bataysk, there was also night prayer in Taganrog. There was Confirmation. Church and chapel were consecrated by fr. Anthony Hey, vicar General of Bishop Kondrusiewicz, actually rector of Major Seminar in Petersburg. He was very open hard to me man. He was happy seeing my children and their First Communion in the city Salsk, where also was first Communion.

I was visiting that place during evening. Holly Mass was at 20.00 in Culture Center. In same building Baptists, Adventists and Testes of Jehovah had meetings. In the day of First Communion main room was occupied by Adventists and all my Holly Mass belongings were inside. We got another room, but I was taking all my things just during Adventist prayers. They were in shock when I took Merciful Jesus statue perhaps my size from the scene, hidden behind curtains. They just were singing together with choir registered on tape nice songs praising Jesus. That very day it was the only choir helping me organizes the event.

Few months later I was so friendly with them, that after having a Mass I was going to their new chapel to spend free time waiting on my bus which was going back in the deep night at 12.30 PM. I was working in such a style perhaps half a year. I got few Catholics there, but mostly the children were coming on the Mass. It was my permanent dream to open there the parish of Saint Peter and Paul, but after getting territory to built church in Wolgodonsk; I had no single day free to be there. My forces were limited and I gave up. Perhaps still there are my small friends, which got a taste of Eucharist but have not opportunity to continue such experience in our Church.

12. Stanitsa Kagalnitskaya

In free moments I was visiting village Kagalnitskaya, half a way to Salsk. Local children were the most numerous group of First Communion candidates I ever had in these places. It was thanks to "Aunt Agatha", parish manager which I met only once, on her funerals. She was totally different than parish managers in Bataysk or Novocherkassk. She never was participating and soviet secret services. She got authority similar like priests have in all these years when we were absent. She was baptizing children and praying for souls, she also cured many sick people with her prayers.

Telling the truth same role played many women in Baptist even Moslem societies in soviet times and partially it happens also now. Man in Russia is disappearing gender in his rights, dignity and physical existence also. It is why so difficult is to restore religion in post soviet society.

Now I wish continue my story, concerning Kagalnitskaya children. At first I was thinking about them because just in the Kagalnicka School has occurred crazy Bus accident on railway crossing in deep cloudy day autumn 1996. About 30 people in school bus, some teachers and children died, Driver stayed alive but he perhaps prefers die also.

About Agata I got to know one year later. I was asking her relatives which came to take me on funerals, how they did find me and they answered, because they saw advertissment in the local paper. It was difficult to understand, I even forget that I was here 2 years before one single day giving such advertisement with small hope to have answer.

Answer came. After this burial I was coming every Monday here to have meetings with adults and children, All of them had German roots.

In 1998 we had house full of children From Kagalnitskaya, Celina and Leningradskaya. Retreats were under Franciscan priest from Moscow, my old friend from Poland, which I met as seminarian in similar retreats. It was perhaps in 1986, twelve years before!

13. Last retreats

Last First Communion retreats I was having in far away Spanish pilgrimage to Santiago. First Communion obtained 3 girls from Volgodonsk. One boy got Baptism and of course first Communion too. Another two persons from Leningradskaya and Azov was prepared to obtain Solemn way First Communion in Santiago.

Five of them got Confirmation from Cardinal Ruoco Varela hands. Finishing such very special celebration Cardinal asked me how will be word "congratulations" in Russian. It was difficult to him but he pronounced long Russian word "pozdravlyayu".

History-geographical annotations

Don - in osetian language "water",, one of biggest rivers in Europe, which together with Volga forms a border between North Caucasus and middle Russia. Don is going throw Voronezh, Rostov and Volgograd regions forming together with Volga so called Tsimlansk See. In Russian Empire times Cossack Land was existing here with own privileges and customs. Nobel price writer Sholokhov made nice story about disappearing of Cossacks in book "Silent River Don"

Bataysk - in Mongol language means "mood" the city on left side of Don. Important railway station. Many places in the city permanently suffer from flutes. In the city lives many railway workers and aircraft soldiers in so called "Aviagorodok" was center for preparing aviators and even cosmonauts in soviet times.

Cossack - "free man", Cossack is population formed from many nations which was looking from freedom especially Polish, Russian and Turkish villagers on Ukraine River Dnepr. They were living thanks to robbing or serving in Polish sometime Russian armies. They were ever dreaming about free Ukraine. In Revolution times they were supporting so called "White forces", so after Revolution they were under deep discrimination. Capital of Cossack land was moved from Novocherkassk to Rostov on Don. Some Cossack customs survived in soviet times as folkloristic movement singing and dancing on official occasions. In Eltsine times they got back some privileges especially controlling markets and Caucasus migration. Ataman of Cossacks has title of vice-governor of Rostov Land. They call themselves also defenders of Orthodox faith so it is why they work as security in these churches and insult other religions.

II. Far East

As seminarian I was told that the biggest pastoral difficulty is lack of personal Confession and some indifferentism concerning Eucharist even in the middle of the cleargy. I was reading in one of reports fro USA, that John Paul II after holly Communion realized that the rest of Holly Host priests collect in some simple plastic bags and put without attention on the floor. He came to these bags and made long adoration on his knees.

It was difficult to believ such ignorance may happen until I saw it on my own eyes not in West but in Russian Far East and also in some communities of Korea and Japan. Some kind of imported secularization.

1. First Communion in Magadan.

In a year 2000 archbishop from Alaska Francis Hurley was on his way to Irkutsk. He made short stop in Sakhalin. He spent some days with his friend and my superior fr. Benedict Zweber. Benedict came to Russia after short talk with Hurley in Nazareth in deep 1994.

Archbishop was in good disposition and he kindly gave to me an interview about his activities in Russia. Article was printed in Russian Catholic paper "Svet Evangelia", but some of statements perhaps were strange for local Russian readers. I will give examples. In 1990 abp Hurley came to Kolyma for just few days visit as a tourist. The whether was bad so his next flight was supposed in 2 weeks. There were no flights even to Moscow in case if he wished to make trip around the entire world to be home. He decided to use such time for missionary activities. He made invitation for local people which are interested to spend Christmas time praying to local Center of Culture. It was printed in papers so people came and he had Christmas Celebration there. There was big group of enthusiasts which were able to make registration of Catholic community under the name of Christmas.

These days it was perhaps the first religious community, because even Orthodox did not have any parish there. In every doings of Archbishop we may see Providence and good missionary will. But there were also big mistakes typical in American way of preaching. He gave holly communion to all the present people without confessing them. It was perhaps 500 people between them big number of unbelievers and even non baptized people. I know this also from some Magadan parishioners memories.

These days the only Catholic church was in Irkutsk but also no permanent priest, nothing. They have Christmas Mass same time just on stairs of the church but I suppose there was just little persons asking confession and communion, because polish priest fr. Pikus (Actually second bishop in Warsaw)which came from Moscow on that single occasion will not permit such mistake as bishop from Alaska.

Archbishop was so impressed by his unexpected missionary adventure that he forget most important things like Catechization of adults, Confession and simple attention to Eucharist, which according the rules have to be given to the people which have sacrament of Matrimony if they are adults and live in families.

To understand how much have to be done to permit people accept Eucharist the man have to spent some time in soviet conditions. In country which denied existence of any religious forms.

2. Vladivostok

I saw a movie about first Holy Mass in Vladivostok near the doors of old cathedral. He was dressed in hat during the mass, gloves, his speech was translated from English and Eucharist obtained all the people even small 2 or 3 years old baby.

Russian people is accustomed to ask communion in Orthodox churches for children, but we Catholics in Latin Rite have own rules and baby have to wait until 7 or 8 years as school children may attend Mass with holly Communion being confessed first!

Perhaps father Effing wished to be kind, but my personal feeling was that he really do not mind what will happen with Holly Host when unprepared people eat Jesus Body.

3. Sakhalin

On Sakhalin I realised that my young Korean organist after obtaining Holly Communion took It out from mouth and give to his 3 years old son.

I was telling fr. Benedict about that story. He just smiled but he did not ignore my words, he find good compromise. He was giving simple unconsecrated host to baby after the mass in sacristy and I was later doing the same for him.

History-geographical annotations

Far East - territories in the east of Asiatic Russia, includes Chukotka, Kolyma, half island Kamchatka, island Sakhalin, Kurilla Islands (territories which Japan also pretend, because there is no peace treaty which regulate Japanese-Russian borders), Primorski Land, Khabarovsk Land, Amur Land, Jewish Autonomous Prefecture, Koryak Autonomous Prefecture, Yakut Autonomic Republic etc. Most of these territories has autochthonic population, which similar as north America Indians have own customs and culture and wish to keep own languages. In soviet times they were forced to live in collective camps fishing or hunting in big settlements like other farmers in Russia. Contact with European culture in soviet version was for them kind of tragedy, they got alcohol addiction they slowly loosed own languages and slowly we see their Russification.

Ewenk (Tunguz), Nivkhi (Galyaks), Nanay, Aynu, Chukcha, Koryak, Itelmen etc. Life of these nations was described by polish etnographs as: Benedykt Dybowski, Bronislaw Pilsudski etc.

Magadan - This is the biggest city on so called Kolyma. We call that prison also "White Auschwitz" of Far East. Gold from Magadan mines was helpful in buying guns in USA during II World War. In Magadan were staying victims of repressions in 30-ties. Many victims were people with polish and Ukrainian roots. Here were imprisoned soviet scientists like father of soviet cosmonautics Korolev. Prisoners have built about 1000 km of asphalt, in deep Siberia to help transportation of gold from far away mines. Magadan Land had no civil administration and was totally controlled by KGB. According different statistics in Magadan died in 30-50-ties (Stalin times) 1,5 million to 4 million human beings.

Sakhalin - "black hill" in Manjour language, in Japanese Karafuto means Chinese land, "Ych myf" in Nivkhi language. It is one of the biggest islands in the world the second in Russia. Its length is about 1000 km, large 30 to 200 km, one of most strong prisons in Russian Empire. There were numerous polish prisoners here. The people was travelling on Sakhalin by boats from Odessa by India and China coast.

Kamchatka - Russian half island used as prison, one of famous prisoners was Beniowski. He successfully refuge on self made ship in the end of 18-th century. As Kurilla Islands, also Kamchatka is very tectonic and volcanic aerie. We have on Kamchatka very endemic flora and fauna.

F. Jaroslaw Wisniewski