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From: "Horst W. Gutsche" <>
Subject: [GV] our people in the Heart-of-Jesus Catholic Church in St. Petersburg
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 20:45:21 -0800


The following is a translation of report in December 1998 regarding the
Herz-Jesu-Kirche in St. Petersburg. It is written by Father Hartmut Kania
and has as its title:

The-Heart-of-Jesus Church in St. Petersburg - Church for Believers and
Non-believers

On the ground floor of this building, which has been rebuilt as a church, we
have our social ministry. Every day people come here with their worries and
problems. And people like this are numerous; indeed without number in this
country. Here the numbers of needy people are getting larger all the time.

The construction company which used to use the whole building is still
working on the second and third floors.

In the evening the doors of the fourth floor are opened. We meet there for
worship services on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and on all church festival
days.

The people who come together then are from many different backgrounds.

- Russian families with their children and young people who come again and
again because they are simply curious and want to have a look.

- Elderly people who come to a worship service for the first time in decades
or who come for the first time in their lives.

- Russian Germans, who sometimes speak a very good German, even though it
was forbidden under threat of punishment for them to speak German

- Many students and graduates from African countries. They often have to
suffer under disadvantages and discrimination now. Many hesitate to return
to their home countries because the situation there is uncertain and
unbearable.

This great variation makes the worship services come alive, with varied
hymns and their rhythms, in the prayers, which are said in various
languages, and then when all differences are put aside and one yearns for
peace.

I am thankful to all who help us, so that this congregational life can
develop and continue. We are grateful for your prayers, your solidarity and
your gifts of money, by which we can pay for expenses for water and heat,
for cleaning and for repairs.

Rev. Hartmut Kania

translated by Horst W. Gutsche; December 17, 2001



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