The Parish of Maria-help to Christians in Sherbakty

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The history of Maria-help to Christians parish in Sherbakty

In 1941 the Catholics were forcedly deported into Sherbakty region of Pavlodar province because of the World War II. Germen of the catholic village Brabander of Saratov region settled mainly near v. Sherbakty. They had lost their priests in Volga region. Only layman Alexander Graf - blind man - tried to keep faith among his fellow - villages. He taught children the faith, prayed and christened people. The believers met in the houses and at the cemeteries.
 

In 1956 during political prisoners' rehabilitation priest Anthony Shishkavichus was set free from Slavgorod prison of Altai. He administered the Holy sacraments in the villages of the parish since that time. Lots of the Catholics were christened in the end of 1950th. Fr. Anthony worked there until he had to leave for Frunse (Bishkek).

At the beginning of 1970th parishioner Egor Gergardovich Lattegan tried to get official registration of the catholic community in the village. Administration punished him more than once, but thanks to his courage and loyalty the Catholics opened official Prayer House in 1979. Egor Gergardovich had invited Fr. Alexander Ben to serve secretly the believers of the parish. The believers received two big statues: Jesus Heart and Maria Heart and St. Kazimir relic from Baltic region for their Prayer House. St. Kazimir was to be a patron of the parish. Since 1978 Fr. France Mignis -the parish priest from Pavlodar at that time- visited the believers of village Sherbakty every month. After his death on May 23, 1983 the priests from Baltic region and Kazakhstan: Fr. John Zubrus from Lithuania, Fr. Boleslav Babrauskas from Tselinograd, Fr. Vitanis Vashkalis, Fr. Victor, Fr. Raphael, then Fr. Albinas from Karaganda visited sometimes the parish. From 1985 to 1986 Greek-catholic bishop Joseph Cheburek was in v. Sherbakti and anointed many believers. In March of 1990 young German priest Fr. Joseph Schmidtlein from Karaganda was sent as a parish priest to Pavlodar. Since that time the Holy Mass was led every week in Sherbakty and in 3 other villages of the parish as well. After religious freedom's declaration in Soviet Union so many people began taking part in public worship, that Fr. Joseph had to begin building of a new church in Sherbakty. In August of 1992 Bishop Paulo Hnilitsa from Rome visited the parish and dedicated the site for a new church building. Local bishop Jan Paul Lenga visited the parish as well and anointed lots of people.

On Fr. Joseph's invitation and thanks to friendship of the both bishops the priests and sisters from the "Pro Deo et fratribus-Maria Co-Redeemer Family" community constantly work in Sherbakty since July 16, 1994. On February 2, 1995 Fr. Jan Mark Stoop was appointed the prior of the parish and Fr. Laurentius Shamberger was appointed the vicar. With the same bishop's order Sherbakti parish was spread to two regions: Uspenski and Lebadgenski.

In last years lots of the parishioners moved to Germany so the priests had to preach Evangelia to completely new people. Despite pessimistic opinions and talks the church building was continued. Really ecumenical Church appeared out of "German Church (Kirche)", where people of many nationalities (now over 10) found their place. Missionaries, coming from West, saw their main aim in informing every body, who had not known, about Church and priests appearing in the region, for anybody had an opportunity to hear God's word. People saw sign of God's love in humanitarian help, which was sent to remote villages by the Church. To the moment of finishing the church building in honor of God Providence 8 new communities of the believers were founded in the distant villages. On August 25, 1996 there were about thousand believers and spectators on solemn dedication of the church by Jan Paul Lenga.

The visit of the statue of the Virgin from Fatima was a great event for the parish. It visited 12 villages and brought new people to the church. Many of them could be baptized and anointed the next year, dedicated to the Holy Spirit. In the year of Got Father people of even more villages began to search an opportunity to join the sacraments. Let anyone find an opened door, leading to our common Father.

Translation: Irina Shirshova

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