BY MATT HESS
Bill Fuller, Missions Committee President at Holy Angels in Sidney, knows that while things have been less active the past year and half due to the pandemic, the committee who coordinates the parish’s mission twinning efforts is ready to get their parish excited again to help their brothers and sisters through Mary, Mother of God Mission Society in Vladivostok, Russia. Holy Angels parishioners have a strong mission foundation, laid by past committee members, Sister Rita Maureen Schmidt, SC and Fran Holthaus, to build on in the coming year. Before the pandemic slowed their work, the parish held two fundraisers with proceeds going to Russia through the Mary, Mother of God Mission Society. This Californiabased non-profit works stateside for the mission, making sure all donations go to their designated destinations. The first of these fundraisers was a sale of Russian icons, art and books at Holy Angels Church. After Mass, parishioners were able to purchase items that would not only grace their homes, but also assist the parish community that produced them. The second was a raffle, coordinated by Pam Leong. These efforts brought in more than $3,000 for the mission society. Funds from Holy Angels are helping with many ministries sponsored by Mary, Mother of God Mission Society. “In particular, our efforts are inspired because there are many ministries to support: basic needs of food, clothing, medical treatment, women support centers (initially trained by Dayton volunteers), evangelization, elderly care, seminarians and capital and equipment projects, to name a few,” said Fuller. However, the work that is most needed is that of Christ’s great commission: spreading the Good News. Throughout the decades of Communist rule, the faith of the Russian people was stamped out, with less than 1-percent of the population practicing any faith today. But, before the 1917 revolution, many ethnic groups settled in Vladivostok and brought the Catholic faith with them. Since 1992, Mary, Mary
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