Christmas Eve in Uzbekistan

My Christmas started with 3 days retreats which i was preaching myself. First day i was preaching just for 5 ladies. Second day for 4 parishionners (two men between them). And the last day in Christmas eve it was for for 12 persons.

My parish is in high “Tien Shan” mountains. One mount at kazakh border (north side) called Uzbek Babay is 5 km from my parish and has 3500 m another at south "Tajik Babay" is 3700. So climat here is very special. Like in Sakhalin you may see here ever mountains.
These days nice snow happened, so frozen temperature started, that i buyed small heating from iron like in Siberia, because that year the aeria of my parish house was cutter hot water  and central heating. We got nice smell of wood and coal in the chappel during retreats. Also mostly we do not have electricity like in Sakhalin first.
Never mind i was happy this first Christmas here. My praeching was about biblical children like small Isaac offered by his father, like David and Goliath or small Samuel hearing voice of God.

Second day was about new testament children and the third about holly children from our times like st. Tarsicius, Venceslaus, Joan d'Arc, Teresa Little Flower and Laura Vicuna.
We started Christmas mass at 14.00 because of old ladies which has to come back home in snowy time. At 15.30 started Christmas supper from 12 dished self made by 6 old ladies home and taken to the chappel. We have had 16 persons between them 2 baptist ministers. Orthodox was also invited but did not come.

At 17.00 we were seeing italian movie “Jesus”.

At 18.30 14-n parishionners came by bus to Tashkent (120km) to participate regular celebration in capital of Uzbekistan.

Church is wanderfull. 95 years old in gothic style with local elements, because not from bricks but from very special local sand and cement.
We have about 300 catholics in 3 million habitants city. But on Christmas ever come about 500 people so it was really amazing.
Parish priest reservated 14 sitting places for my parishionners.
The mass was under bishop in Russian. Readings were in english, korean and polish. The speech was in russian with english translation. I got privilege to translate the bishop.
The mass finished at 2 am. My parish returned home at 4 am. Myself i was invited with bishop and other cleargy to stay on supper which finished at 6 am. Later i was sending Christmas letters and answering all the greetings…

That story was made to give you more impressions and give you courage to visit me.

Fr. Jaroslaw Wisniewski

VATICAN EMBASSY

MUSAKHANOVA STR 81A

100047 Tashkent

Uzbekistan