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Mongolia: New Year Message of the bishop Print E-mail
Written by Msgr. Wens S. Padilla, CICM   
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
UB, New Year 2008

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us"! (Angelus)


Dear Father General Superior & Community,

Greetings from freezing Mongolia! Hoping that you had wonderful and joyful celebrations during the Christmas Season. May the New Year 2008 fill your heart with gladness as well!

Another year has gone by. I hope that it was for you truly a Year of the Lord in which you experienced God's deep and abiding love in your personal and community life and also in your ministry. For the Catholic Church Mission in Mongolia, we can recount the blessings that we received last year 2007. To mention some, we have: the 15th anniversary of the tying up of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Mongolia; the 15th year of our missionary presence; the commissioning of the Cathedral dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul; the opening and blessing of the Church of St. Mary's in Khaan Uul; the establishment of the Parish of Maria Auxilium; the ordination of Rev. Paul Trung, SDB; the granting of permission to operate as Church in Arvaiheer; the blessing of the chapel of Mary Mother at Sts. Peter & Paul; the installation of the stained glass windows of the Cathedral; the selection of the Mongolian Mission as the model mission for World Mission Sunday by MISSIO, Germany; the blessings for the mission given by the Holy Father during my Ad Limina visit; the promulgation and launching of the first Pastoral Plan of the Apostolic Prefecture; and so on and so forth.... These are truly reasons to celebrate God's favor to us and our mission. We are grateful!

There are now 65 missionaries altogether. We are totally dedicated to serving Christ in the poorest of the poor; the homeless, the hungry, the street children, the battered women, the elderly men, the young girls at risk. Some of us are engaged in charitable and educational works of a more structured nature like; small schools, a Mostaert Research Center, a technical school, simple neighborhood clinics, agricultural cooperatives, libraries for young students, youth centers, and day care centers for mentally challenged children. While the number and needs of these poor people keep growing, I'm happy to say that our Christian witness is growing too. There are many more people touched by God's love than the baptised persons in Church. My joy also goes to our missionaries and our lay collaborators who are ever dedicated and committed to their missionary involvements.

All that the Catholic Mission has become to the present time, were possible and will continue because of your spiritual support. In my Ad Limina visit where I made a progress report to the Pope on this "baby church" in Mongolia, it was my pleasure to ask the Holy Father to extend his special blessings to you, your communities, and your love ones.

He is truly Emmanuel ... God-with-us! And as we look onwards to the New Year, we keep our gaze on Him and ask for His guidance and blessing. Hoping that He will journey again with us as our Light, our Hope, and our Peace.

God bless you, and my sincere thanks for your support, care and concern!

A HOPE-FILLED NEW YEAR TO ALL!



+Msgr. Wens S. Padilla, CICM
Apostolic Prefect
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 23 January 2008 )