About the work of the Elisabeth Convent, Orthodox community in Minsk, Belarus

Today, we introduce you to the work of the sisters from the St Elisabeth Convent in Belarus.

St Elisabeth Convent, Orthodox community in Minsk, Belarus bears the name of the holy Martyr Grand Princess Elisabeth. It was founded in 1999 in the outskirts of Minsk and has originated from the sisterhood bearing the same name. The convent currently counts just under a hundred nuns and around 300 sisters of mercy. Taking up the ministry of our patron saint the sisters of our convent provide spiritual and social help to the sick and the suffering.

Since its establishment the convent has been patronizing 200 orphanage children with psychophysical deficiencies for more than 14 years. Our assistance goes from purchasing diapers for the bedridden children to the implementation of different activities on their rehabilitation and socialization. We consider it vital to raise children in the atmosphere of love, mercy and diligence.

There is a charity shelter founded on the farmstead of the Convent located 19 mi from Minsk for people who were led astray by the rough and tumble of life (the homeless, drug or alcohol addicts, ex-prisoners and the less able). Over 200 residents live here today. The Convent provides the needy with comprehensive help: accommodation, meals and necessary medicines, arranges medical examinations for them, helps to restore their IDs.

A rehabilitation facility for females was established several years ago for female ex-prisoners, the homeless and the mentally challenged women.

To support and develop the above ministries, more than twenty workshops and studios operate within the frameworks of the Sisterhood. These include sewing and embroidery shops, candle workshop, wood-carving, stone and blacksmith workshops and many more. Some of the people working in the workshops are those who lost all hope in realizing their potential due to various illnesses. But the Lord gave a talent to everyone and these people have skilled hands and the desire to work. Together with the sisters these people produce beautiful articles with love and prayer in the convent’s workshops.

To learn more about the work of the Convent and support them, please see:

https://obitel-minsk.org/

https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/sewing.html
https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/icons-prav.html
https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/crosses.html

Updated Covid restrictions when entering the Church

Please do not enter the Church if you have a temperature, a new a persistent cough, loss of taste/smell  or any other covid symptoms.

FACE MASKS 

Please note the wearing of face masks is no longer compulsory inside churches – but please feel free to wear one if you wish.

If you have not yet had your Covid jab or booster jab – for the sake of everyone, please book it.

HAND SANITISER is available at the back of the Church please help yourselves.

Lenten Project: Help for Ukraine

During Lent the Parish is going to collect money in aid of the people of the Ukraine. We will send this to ‘Aid To The Church in Need’ who have launched an appeal for this to support the work of the Church in Ukraine providing aid and comfort to their fearful people, to refugees displaced by violence, to vulnerable children in orphanages, single mothers and the elderly.  All are facing the challenge of surviving as costs spiral as a result of the war. Your kind donation, of whatever you can afford, will help get aid to where it is needed most at this distressing time.

For the rest of Lent, the black iron collection box at the back of the church will be used to collect money. You can also put donations in envelopes marked ‘Ukraine’ in the normal Sunday collection bags, or hand them into the sacristy or Parish Office. For more details of Aid to the Church in Need’s appeal go to

acnuk.org/our-campaigns/emergency-appeal-for-ukraine/

St. Mark’s Church, on St. Mark’s Hill in Surbiton are collecting items of aid with the local Ukrainian community to be sent via a lorry to the Ukraine. They need the following items.

  • Medical: bandages, first aid kits and non prescription drugs (neurofen/ ibuprofen).
  • Toiletries: toothpaste, women’s sanitary items and bodywash.
  • Baby stuff: baby dried formula milk and nappies.
  • Please no clothes, blankets or duvets. 

For more information, please call St. Mark’s Parish Office on 020 8390 9129.

Synod meeting in our Parish

According to the timetable for consultation, we have just over two weeks for meetings. After this, we contribute to a South West Area group so that our Area of the Diocese then reports to Archbishop’s House. I believe the best way forward is to arrange for smaller groups within the Parish to share their thoughts freely. It is essential that accurate notes are taken down from what each person says as everyone should have an opportunity to contribute. Groups can meet in homes, or here in the parish library. Please check availability with the parish office.

The groups I have in mind are as follows: Parish Council, Finance Group, Catechists, Mens’ Group, Sacristans, Stewards and Choir with musicians, making seven groups. Each group needs to appoint a Leader for the discussion. The Leader needs to appoint a Note Taker. Meetings could aim to run for an hour, possibly for more if that is agreed by the assembled group.

Meetings must begin with prayer. Please read the Synod Prayer (the cards are NOW available at the back of the church, for each person). Also, have a period of reflection on the prayer, asking for the Spirit’s guidance. Each person should speak for no longer than 5 minutes. Leaders must consult the material on this website: <aec.rcaos.org.uk/synod> Thediocesan centre (aec) has a helpful series of boxes and I suggest you look carefully at Section 3: Questions and Section 4: Conversations.

To simplify, everyone should address these three questions:
1.  How is the Holy Eucharist the main focal point for your parish?
2.  How does your parish effectively identify and use the gifts of its people?
3.  Given what you see of the Church (words and actions), in the parish and beyond, what would you say is the Church’s mission?

I have arranged two other general meetings for parishioners to attend. The first of these will be Next Sunday, 14th November, after the 5.00pm Mass and the second will be on Monday 15th November at 10.35am (following the morning Mass). Our delegates, Ginette and Vera will help with these. The notes, written or printed, from all meetings, should be returned to the Parish Priest. It is possible for individuals to send comments on–line through the section in <aec.rcaos.org.uk/synod>

Groups can meet in person or in on–line groupings such as ‘Zoom’, which you can organise yourselves. Whatever you decide, please move quickly to complete this first part of the programme!

Finally, please take home one of the prayer cards from the back of the Church today and pray for the success of the Synod.

Fr Michael

Sunday 10 October 2021 – ARCHBISHOP JOHN’S VISIT

On Sunday 10 October, His Grace the Archbishop made his first visit to the Parish and celebrated Mass for us at 10.30am.  This was followed by a reception in the Hall.

Archbishop John Writes:

‘Dear Fr. Michael,

Many thanks for your warm welcome when I came to St. Raphael’s for a pastoral visit. It was a great joy to be with you and your people.  Thank you to those who organised the wonderful buffet after Mass which gave me a chance to meet further with parishioners. Please pray for me as I will for you and your Parish community.

With warm best wishes

Yours sincerely in Christ
The Most Rev. John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark’

Archbishop’s visit to St Raphael’s, October, 2021