Marilyn Courchene
Angels Corner at Most Holy Mother of God Roman Catholic Church, Vladivostok, Russia - Modesto, California, United States
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Most Holy Mother of God Roman Catholic Church, Vladivostok, Russia
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Most Holy Mother of God Roman Catholic Church, Vladivostok, Russia
Modesto, California, United States • 5 EmployeesReligious Institutions
The largest Roman Catholic parish in the Russian Far East.Established in the 1860's to serve the Latin rite diasporas of Polish, German, Baltic and Ukrainian Catholics.The historic church was constructed in the neo-Gothic style between 1908 and 2010. In 1922 it was the largest Catholic parish in Russia (15,000 members). Vladivostok became a diocese in 1923 with the pastor Canon Karol Slivovsk the first bishop. The church was confiscated in 1930 by the Communists who built 3 new floors inside for use as government archives. Between 1922-1992 many parishioners were executed or sent to the slave labor camps to die of starvation and disease.The parish was re-opened on January 1, 1992 with Fr. Myron Effing, CJD first pastor and Fr. Daniel Maurer, CJD (ordained in Vladivostok in September 1992) associate pastor. The parish has around 450 registered members. It has active programs in evangelization; catechesis; Russian liturgical music development; pro-life and support for pregnant women; concerts of sacred music; marriage strengthening; youth ministry; charitable work with the poor, homeless, orphans, elderly dying, chemically dependent, small businesses, etc.In 1996 the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne from Saragosa, Spain opened a local community in the parish. They now have 4 local vocations.Fr. Myron and Fr. Daniel have founded or re-opened 10 other parishes in the Russian Far East. Their community of Canons Regular of Jesus the Lord has 4 members in Vladivostok.