Friends in Faith eNewsletter March 2014 Issue 28

A CATHOLIC MISSION NEWSLETTER ISSUE 28 Freecall: 1800 257 296 catholicmission.org.au

“To be a teacher is generally a nice thing because a teacher gives, always giving, giving... helping people. I also love children, and when I’m with them I feel like I am there in my childhood. So, it really gives me joy,� she explains.

ƒ–‡…Š‹•–• —ϔ‹Â?ƒ ƒÂ?† Žƒ”ƒ ƒ”‡ Š‡Ž’‹Â?‰ –‘ „—‹Ž† ˆƒ‹–Š ‹Â? ‘Â?‰‘Ž‹ƒ

Across the Steppes

to Salvation For centuries, the vast treeless plains of Mongolia have witnessed the clash of competing beliefs.

Many of them have been violent.

During the thirteenth century, the armies of Genghis Khan thundered across these plains to build an empire that stretched from Korea to Romania. The late seventeenth century saw the beginning of incursions by the Chinese who, in 1921, were eventually ousted by the Mongolian people. The country’s newly found independence came at a price as its Russian supporters …‘Â?–‹Â?—‡† –‘ ‡š‡”– –Š‡‹” ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡ during much of the twentieth century.

The fall of communism heralded the return of many freedoms for the Mongolian people. Parliamentary elections gave them a greater role in their country’s governance, while religious freedoms also afforded them the liberty they sought.

However their journey through this period was a challenging one, and

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•‹‰Â?‹Ď?‹…ƒÂ?– ’”‘„Ž‡Â?• ”‡Â?ƒ‹Â?Ǥ • ƒ country that only recently established ties with the Vatican, the message of the Catholic faith is still foreign to many Mongolians, especially those who struggle to reconcile their dreams with the poverty that surrounds them. Two women, however, are determined to change this. ™‡Â?–›njĎ?‹˜‡ ›‡ƒ” ‘Ž† —Ď?‹Â?ƒ ƒÂ?† thirty-two year old Clara are catechists who, for the last several years, have been working to bring the Gospel to communities around Mongolia. Both women see their work as an important part of their faith in action, sustained by the ongoing support of donors like you. ‘” —Ď?‹Â?ÂƒÇĄ –Š‡ ‰‹ˆ– ‘ˆ ‰‹˜‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† Š‡” love of children lie at the heart of her work.

Ž–Š‘—‰Š •Š‡ ™ƒ•Â?ǯ– „‘”Â? ‹Â?–‘ ƒ ƒ–Š‘Ž‹… ˆƒÂ?‹Ž›ǥ —Ď?‹Â?ƒ Ž‡ƒ”Â?‡† about Catholicism through a relative who attended a catechist …Žƒ•• ƒ– ƒ …Š—”…ŠǤ • ƒÂ? ‡‹‰Š–‡‡Â?ÇŚ year old student, she decided to formally become a member of the Church, before moving to Rome where she studied catechism for four years. “I think this was a really big thing and a big responsibility because there were so many young people there in the Church, but I was the only one chosen from Mongolia, so this was maybe my big challenge,â€? she points out.

Upon returning from Rome, she studied in Korea for three years, where she completed a master’s degree in theology. She then returned to Mongolia to organise and conduct catechism classes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

While her experiences abroad have informed her work with Mongolia’s youngest, they’ve also strengthened the meaning her faith brings to her life. “Being Catholic is completely different. It gives really deep meaning to my life now. Even though we die on earth, we have eternal life after, and so it always gives me courage.�

Her colleague Clara shares her …‘Â?˜‹…–‹‘Â?Ǥ ‹Â?‡ —Ď?‹Â?ÂƒÇĄ •Š‡ ƒŽ•‘ encountered the Catholic faith as a student when she met missionary

Continued overleaf...

…”‘•• –Š‡ –‡’’‡• –‘ ƒŽ˜ƒ–‹‘� …‘�–‹�—‡†

priests near her home in the Mongolian countryside.

The work of the Sisters from Mother Teresa’s congregation also resonated with her and, before long, she had moved to Rome to study.

Following a one-year stay in Korea where she conducted catechism classes for expatriate Mongolians, she returned to her homeland to organise catechism …Žƒ••‡• ˆ‘” ›‘—Â?‰ …Š‹Ž†”‡Â?Ǥ • •Š‡ ”‡Ď?Ž‡…–• ‘Â? Š‡” –‹Â?‡ abroad, Clara is grateful for the opportunity she’s had to experience other cultures. She feels her greatest ˆ—ŽĎ?‹ŽÂ?‡Â?– ”‡Â?ƒ‹Â?• „”‹Â?‰‹Â?‰ –Š‡ ‡••‡Â?…‡ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘”†ǯ• message to others.

—ϔ‹Â?ƒ ƒÂ?† Žƒ”ƒ ϔ‹Â?† Œ‘› ‹Â? •Šƒ”‹Â?‰ ‘†ǯ• ™‘”†

“When people really feel God’s love in their life, it’s really a joy for me to be a Catholic catechist,� she says.

Â’Â‘Â˜Â‡Â”Â–Â›Č†Â•Â—Â…ÂŠ ĥ ƒŽ…‘Š‘Ž‹•Â? ƒÂ?† †‘Â?‡•–‹… ˜‹‘Ž‡Â?…‡Ȇ •‹Â?’Ž› ƒ†† ˆ—‡Ž –‘ –Š‡ Ď?‹”‡Ǥ › …‘Â?˜‡›‹Â?‰ –Š‡ ‡•—•ǯ Â?‡••ƒ‰‡ ‹Â? –Š‡‹” ‘™Â? –‘Â?‰—‡ǥ —Ď?‹Â?ƒ ƒÂ?† Žƒ”ƒ Š‘’‡ to show their people that there is hope for a brighter future.

In the last seven years, Clara has been able to bring that love to her mother, husband and children. However, in the home of the world’s youngest Catholic Church, •‹‰Â?‹Ď?‹…ƒÂ?– …ŠƒŽŽ‡Â?‰‡• …‘Â?–‹Â?—‡ –‘ ˆƒ…‡ Š‡” ƒÂ?† –Š‡ people of Mongolia.

“Through these books, we want to let them understand that our life is really linked with God, through our …—Ž–—”‡ ƒÂ?† –”ƒ†‹–‹‘Â?ÇĄ ™Š‹…Š ƒ”‡ ‹Â? –Š‡ „‘‘Â?•ǥdz —Ď?‹Â?ƒ says.

Dz ‘‘Â?• ƒÂ?† Â?ƒ–‡”‹ƒŽ• ˆ‘” –Š‡ Â…ÂŽÂƒÂ•Â•Â‡Â•Č†Â–ÂŠÂ‹Â• ‹• ‘—” „‹‰‰‡•– Â?‡‡†ǥdz Žƒ”ƒ ‡š’Žƒ‹Â?•Ǥ Dz Â?† –Š‡ •‡…‘Â?† –Š‹Â?‰ ‹• –‘ „”‹Â?‰ the community together, as a group. This is really needed.â€?

Once the two catechists have completed their work, the books will be trialled before broader distribution. While their widespread adoption is some way off, the essence ‘ˆ –Š‡‹” Â?Â‡Â•Â•ÂƒÂ‰Â‡Č†Â’Â‡ÂƒÂ…Â‡ÇĄ Ž‘˜‡ ƒÂ?† ‡˜‡”Žƒ•–‹Â?‰ ÂŽÂ‹ÂˆÂ‡Č†Â‹Â• ƒŽ”‡ƒ†› –ƒÂ?‹Â?‰ ”‘‘–Ǥ —Ď?‹Â?ÂƒÇĄ Žƒ”ƒ ƒÂ?† –Š‡‹” …‘ŽŽ‡ƒ‰—‡• Š‘’‡ –‘ •Š‘™ Š‘™ Ԡ Šƒ• Â?‘– ˆ‘”•ƒÂ?‡Â? –Š‡Â?Č†Â–ÂŠÂƒÂ–ÇĄ „› listening to His word, a better life here, and beyond, is possible.

‘ ƒ††”‡•• –Š‡•‡ Â?‡‡†•ǥ •Š‡ ƒÂ?† —Ď?‹Â?ƒ ƒ”‡ †‡˜‡Ž‘’‹Â?‰ a series of books they intend to include in their …ƒ–‡…Š‡–‹…ƒŽ …—””‹…—Ž—Â?Ǥ …‘Â?„‹Â?ƒ–‹‘Â? ‘ˆ „‹„Ž‹…ƒŽ scripture with texts about Mongolian culture, the books will convey the Lord’s message in a way that is ƒ……‡••‹„Ž‡ –‘ –Š‡‹” ”‡•’‡…–‹˜‡ –ƒ”‰‡– ƒ—†‹‡Â?…‡•ȆÂ?ƒÂ?‡Ž›ǥ adults, teenagers and children.

Once distributed, it is hoped that the books will clearly convey the Word of God to all who seek it, especially those from rural communities. In the towns that dot the country’s steppes, the problems that accompany

Dz —” ˆƒ‹–Š Š‡Ž’• —• •‘Ž˜‡ Â?ƒÂ?› –Š‹Â?‰•ǥdz Žƒ”ƒ ƒ††•Ǥ Dz Â?† we do this through forgiveness and love, we learn how to love others and how to forgive them.â€?

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