February 2009- catholic.az
THE CHURCH OF THE VIRGIN MARY’S IMMACULATE

The Church of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception was built in 2006.  Pope John Paul II visited Baku in 2002 and commissioned that a church be constructed.  Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliev presented the plot of land for the building to the Church. On April 29th, 2007 Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Nuncio administered the rite of consecration of the Church.

Salesian Order in Baku: Fr. Vladimir Fekete (Ordinary), Holy Mass in Russian Fr. Slavko Shvihra (Parish Priest), Holy Mass in Russian Fr. Martin Bonkalo Holy Mass in Russian Fr. Josef Marek Holy Mass in English Fr. Stephan Kormancik (Director of The Mary Center) Fr Vladimir Baxa Br. Peter Br. Marian (Operates soup kitchen at Church)	Sisters of Charity, Shelter for the Homeless: Sister Stefania (Prioress) Sister Marina Sister Angelique Sister Rosella Sister Lucy

Address: 10, Orujevst., Baku, Azerbaijan
(the corner of Nobel Ave. and Raphieva St.)

 

February 11: Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes

At the age of 13, Bernadette Soubirous was preparing for her First Holy Communion. One of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the fire. On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood. The 2 companions ran ahead and left Bernadette struggling to keep up. As Bernadette was taking off her shoes to make her way through the river, she was startled by a peculiar wind and rustling sound.;

Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank. Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light. Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet. Bernadette rubbed her eyes. What a beautiful lady! But where did she come from? And what was she doing here?

The beautiful lady smiled at Bernadette and asked her to say her rosary. Bernadette said her prayers and when she was finished she looked up, the lady had vanished. Bernadette caught up to her 2 friends and discovered that they were upset with her. What have you been doing? Playing in the river, while we are out here collecting wood? Bernadette told them about the vision she had just witnessed. The girls told Bernadette she was silly and probably just seeing things.

Bernadette felt drawn to the grotto and returned there on the next Sunday. Again Bernadette saw the beautiful lady. The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her. The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days. She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there. She told her to drink water from the stream. The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners. Bernadette followed the requests.

On March 25, the Lady finally told Bernadette that she was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that her purpose in appearing to Bernadette was to warn her to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. The miracles of body and soul performed at Lourdes are the proof that this message was a true warning from the queen of heaven to her children and that she was deeply interested in their welfare.

Bernadette’s daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside. Crowds of people began to gather and watch Bernadette as she examined the cave and obediently did the things the lady asked of her. They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out. Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water every day!

This is the sacred Lourdes water which heals all! At first, the priests, the town’s folk, and the families doubted Bernadette’s visions and the purpose in her activities. But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary’s plans for her. Eventually everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles.

At the age of 22, Bernadette became a nun and devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God. Bernadette died on April 16, 1879, at the age of 36.

She will be remembered for believing in the greater glory of God as she was faithful to her mission, she was humble in glory and she was valiant in her sufferings. Today, Lourdes remains one of the most frequented Christian shrines in the world. More than 3 million visitors, pilgrims and tourists come each year to the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times in 1858.

The website for the Catholic Church of Azerbaijan is www.catholic.az

 

Ministries and Activities Music Ministry: Choir practice is held at 8pm on Thursdays after 7pm Holy Mass. Contacts: Dhoy and Fe Pasa (050-398-8792) Lector Ministry: For those who are interested in       serving as a lector at Mass in English. Contacts: Fe Pasa or Christina Lu (See before Holy Mass) Couples for Christ: Includes a Bible Study the 1st Friday of every month after 7pm Holy Mass at Christ the Redeemer’s Parish. Contact: Aries Atienza (051-347-6738) Shelter for the Homeless: For those whoare interested in helping, visiting, and/or providing items for the poor and the homeless. Contact:  Sister Stefanie (040-218-6046) Contact: Father Stephan Website: www.maryammerkezi.com

Special Occasions Schedule for Sunday Mass Offering (English) if you are interested in bringing an offering (flowers, food, cakes, items for the Church, etc.) to 11am Holy Mass on Sunday, please contact Christina Lu (050-313-2682) or Christina Sol (050-660-4917). They have the schedule for the whole year, so if you have a special date (birthday, anniversary), you can schedule in advance.  Couples For Christ Activities On the 1st and 2nd Fridays at 7:30pm of each month, Couples for Christ will hold household prayer meetings; all are welcome. On the 3rd Fridays of each month at 7:30pm Couples for Christ will have Bible Study in the Gangilik Church. On the 4th Saturday of every month, Catechism & Fellowship for the entire parish will be held at the Church at 7:30pm.

 

25 July 2008 - catholic.az
Bible study

To those who are interested to join the Bible Study conducted by Fr. Jozef every 3rd Friday of the Month are very welcome The venue is in the Christ the Redeemer’s Parish at Gangilick at 7:30 pm.

Join now and bring some friends with you and filled your spirit with the words of God.

25 July 2008 - catholic.az
The Holy Rosary

For the information of the parishioners of Immaculate Concepcion Parish in Baku. There is a Rosary and Novena every Wednesday in the church at 7:30 pm.

Everyone is invited to come and pray the Rosary together, as our devotion to our Mother Mary the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. She is the Queen of Peace and we need her intercession.

Your presence inspire everyone to be a devoted children of Mary for the Glory of Her Son Jesus Christ.