Lunar New Year

On Feb 11st, we began to celebrate Tsaagan Tsar, which is the first day of the year according to the Mongolian Lunar Calendar (Tibetan tradition). A great deal of work is required to prepare for the country’s most important feast. Up until the first day of celebrations the stores were packed with anxious shoppers trying to buy food and gifts to give to each guest who comes to visit them. The women had the hardest work. They spend several days preparing hundreds of booz (meat dumplings) and dairy foods to mark the occasion. Well-off families prepare and serve a stewed side of sheep as well. While most Europeans and North Americans would cut off the fat due to health reasons, the fat is the most important for Mongolians since it is seen as a sign of abundance and a source of strength.

A New Year with New Proposals

Greetings! We are near the end of January with several new initiatives in our mission in Arvaiheer. As we mentioned in a previous blog, God blessed us with Harumi, a Japanese lay missionary, who will be living and working with us over the next year. 

Two new initiatives have already begun over the past couple of weeks.  We have begun a new cooking project in order to teach the women baking skills. The products will be used for the church community.

Second, we have also begun a new program for the men who frequent the mission.  They are making various handmade objects such as crosses and book holders that could eventually be sold to visitors as we do with the items made by the women in the local area.

We hope that this gives the men an opportunity to gain a sense of self worth and to help contribute financially to their families in great need of assistance.

Harumi, Japanese Lay Missionary

Last week Harumi Machida, a Japanese lay missionary came to stay with our community in Arvaiheer. She is a vibrant, friendly and intelligent young woman who would like to help with the various projects in our mission. She was officially introduced to our parish members at the end of last Sunday's Mass. 

Dalla parrocchia di Arvaiheer

La neve crea sempre un’atmosfera speciale, quasi magica, difficile da descrivere. Qui nella nostra missione in Mongolia, ora che e’ tutto ricoperto da quella candida coltre bianca, si percepisce un senso di pace e di silenzio. La poesia, pero’, lascia subito spazio alla dura realta’ di freddo e sofferenza di molte famiglie mongole, che scarseggiano di legna e di carbone. Il lungo e rigido inverno e’ iniziato da un bel po’!

The Virgin Mary: Tainted Nature's Solitary Boast

How many people here today chose their mother before their birth?

No one!  None of us were able to choose.  Jesus Christ was the only Person in all of human history who has been able to do so.

If we could choose our mothers, we would probably not want them to be different from what we already have. Thank God! But just think for a moment.