Scottish Catholic Observer

Many people would not associate the vast expanses of Mongolia with the Catholic Church, but that is about to change. This year’s Mission Matters Scotland World

Mission Month appeal in October will focus on the world’s youngest Catholic Church, which was established in Mongolia just over 20 years ago following the fall of communism.

In 1992, Bishop Wenceslao (Wens) Padilla—a Filipino from the Italian Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary—and two fellow missionary priests, travelled to

Mongolia to build the Church ‘from scratch’ in a country known to other missionaries as the ‘hardship country.’ Bishop Wens recalls that when he first arrived, the country which was mostly comprised of nomadic herders—had no knowledge of Christianity, and was struggling with alcoholism, domestic abuse, minimal government social services and extreme poverty.

Today, throughout the vast and remote country of less than three million people, proudly stand six Catholic churches.

Mission Matters Scotland, as part of the Pontifical Mission Societies worldwide, has supported the Mongolian Catholic Church through its generous and faithful donors and helped build the very first church in Mongolia just three years after Bishop Wens arrived.

“What is truly exciting about the young Catholic Church in Mongolia, is that the vast majority of its Catholics have come to faith later in their lives—very few have been born into Catholic families,” Fr Tom Welsh, national director of Mission Matters Scotland, said. “One of the biggest challenges still facing the Catholic Church in Mongolia is that there are no locally born priests or sisters. The country’s first two seminarians are currently studying in Korea, so the Church relies heavily on local Catechists to develop learning materials and ways to bring the Gospel into the everyday lives of Mongolians.

“Mission Matters Scotland supports the training, resources and work of the Catechists and seminarians, plus many community development projects for those living in poverty. Through supporting MMScotland, you are supporting all of these outreach activities in Mongolia.

“Due to the poverty in the country, the Mongolian Catholic Church receives no local income and desperately needs our prayers and financial support to continue to build Church and through it the Kingdom of God in the remote areas of their country.

“I think Catholics all around Scotland will be truly inspired by the story of Bishop Wens and the incredible impact Mongolia’s Catholic Church—the world’s youngest Catholic Church—is having in transforming the lives of so many people in Mongolia—people who have never before heard about Jesus.”

It was only just over 20 years ago, in 1992, after the fall of communism, that the very first Catholic missionary priests were able to enter Mongolia to share the Good News of Jesus Christ and build the world’s youngest Catholic Church.

One of those first three priests, and today Mongolia’s first and only bishop, Bishop Wenceslao Wens shares the joys and challenges of building the church ‘from scratch’ in a country known to other missionaries as the ‘hardship country.’ He recalls that when he first arrived, the country, which was mostly comprised of nomadic herders, had no knowledge of Christianity, and was struggling with alcoholism, domestic abuse, minimal government social services and extreme poverty.

Today, throughout the vast and remote country of less than three million people, proudly stand six Catholic churches.

“Jesus said to St Peter, ‘Upon this rock, I will build my church.’ And I’m thinking that was also addressed to me when I came to Mongolia,” Bishop Wens said.

Bishop Wens—and his incredibly inspiring journey of faith in Mongolia—is the focus of Mission Matters Scotland’s 2014 World Mission Appeal entitled ‘I will build my Church’ (Matthew 16:18). The story will be shared in parishes across the country during October’s Mission Month.

“Without the Church, without the Congregation, sending me to come to the mission, I could not be in Mongolia. And without the support of funding institutions, without their collaboration, without their partnership, we could not have this mission,” the bishop explained.

Fr Welsh said: “The story of Bishop Wens and his fellow priests is an inspiration to all of us in Scotland and typifies all that World Mission Month in October 2014 represents for the mission work of the Church. It is truly humbling to hear the inspirational journey of the world’s youngest Catholic Church.”

The ongoing support of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith by Scottish Catholics is vital to the missionaries serving in 1150 dioceses throughout Asia, Africa, parts of Latin America and Europe, and on the Islands of the Pacific. This annual generosity makes it possible for local priests, religious, and Catechists to reach out to communities, families and children in desperate need, bringing the light of Christ to the darkest of circumstances.

“For this year’s World Mission Sunday celebration on 19th October 2014, we are focusing on the words from St. Matthew’s Gospel, ‘I Will Build My Church’ (Matthew 16:18), highlighting the outreach of local churches through priests, religious and laity among the poor and marginalised half a world away,” Fr Welsh said. “The specific example we have chosen is of Bishop Wenceslao (Wens) Padilla, the first Bishop of Mongolia, and his fellow missionary priests from the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and their work among families and children in need, sharing God’s love and mercy, His hope and peace, while offering practical help—changing lives every day! Similar help is provided to mission churches in territories covering more than half the globe.”

The prayers and generous support offered to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith on World Mission Sunday directly benefit the mission church—places like Mongolia where the young church is growing, filled with zeal for the faith, but lacking resources for its outreach to families and those in need. Such support is a concrete way to ‘build our Church’—to deepen your relationship with Jesus by helping Bishop Wens and so many other missionaries around the world.

— Mission Matters Scotland is the working name of MISSIO Scotland Mission Matters Scotland is the only organisation to guarantee support for each of the 1100 mission dioceses in the world. To support Mission Matters Scotland call: 01236 449774 or e-mail: national.office@missionmattersscotland .org

— www.missionmattersscotland.org