BULGARIA
Support for the life and work of religious sisters
Catholics make up only a very small minority in the total population of Bulgaria. Out odf a population of around 7.3 million, there are only about 80,000 Catholics living in this country. As a Catholic priest or religious you need to have a great deal of patience. Anyone who expects quick results here, has got it wrong. “We are working for the next generation”, the priests and religious say.
In the towns of Zitnitza and Rakovski, in the diocese of Plovdiv in the south of Bulgaria, there is a community of five Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Their congregation was founded in the 19th Century and is present today in 20 countries of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. The sisters preach the Gospel through their active service of the poor.
In Zitnitza and Rakovski they help the sick and elderly and make house visits when the priest is unable to do so. They also give catechetical instruction and teach religious education in the schools.
Although Bulgaria is a member state of the European Union, around one fifth of the population nevertheless lives in poverty so there is plenty of work for the sisters in their ministry to the poor and needy. At the same time the sisters themselves are in need of help, since their living costs are rising relentlessly.
ACN has been helping these sisters every year to make ends meet …. and this year is no exception. Once again they have turned to us for help.Sister Francoise writes, “On behalf of all my fellow sisters I am knocking on your door once again and asking for a little help, so that we can continue in our work of service for the people of God and of our and your brothers and sisters.”
We are helping them with a contribution of 1,500 Euros.
