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Oblate Crossings
Oblates are Growing the Faith
Consecration of a Church and School in Madagascar
In September, the Missionary Oblates celebrated the consecration of a new church and school in the mission of Misokitsy, Madagascar.
The church, known as Mother of the Church, and school were gifts from the Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamien, Poland, in celebration of the diocese 50th anniversary of existence.
“We have created a spiritual bridge of churches between Poland and Madagascar that may be distant from each other by kilometers, but are in solidarity through mutual prayer and support,” said Fr. Pawel Placzek, Director of the Pontifical Missionary Worker for the Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamien. “After all, missions are a matter of faith. We did this for Christ.”
The foundation stone for the church in Misokitsy was laid on December 1, 2019. The stone was excavated from the foundation of Szczecin Cathedral as a symbolic sign of unity between the two communities.
The celebration of the consecration began with a traditional greeting. Guests from Poland were transported in carriages drawn by bulls. During the Eucharist, presided over by the bishop of Morondava, the church was consecrated and the youth received the sacrament of Confirmation.
A New Church in Pakistan
A new church is being built by the Missionary Oblates in Pakistan along the eastern border with India. When completed it will be a mission church connected to the Oblate parish of Our Lady of Sorrows in Kasur.
The parish in Kasur is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Lahore. The Oblates have been responsible for the parish since 2007. There are currently eight mission stations in the area connected with the parish with catechists working at each site performing missionary work.
The Oblates arrived in Pakistan in 1971 at the invitation of the bishop of Faisalabad Diocese because of a severe shortage of priests in the country. In addition to parish ministries, the Oblates also recently created a high school in one of the poorest parts of the country.