Building The Kingdom



Serious joy at the Church of the Nativity
Magadan, Russia

When I was newly Catholic I attended a mini-retreat given by Fr. Michael Shields, who serves a mission of the Archdiocese of Anchorage in the Russian Far East. (aka Siberia.) His presence is saintly, his perspective is broad, and his charcoal grey habit is cool. He has a tireless optimism for what we're capable of by loving God, who loved us first. What more can we ask of our ordained men?

His outreach has largely focused on sex workers in Russia, saving them from a life of oppression and violence --- and their babies from death. Many brave women accept his offer of concrete support; all their needs are provided for by the mission, usually for as long as three years.

Today I share this article especially for those reading from beyond Anchorage, since local folks will probably already see it in our trusty Catholic Anchor.

Connect with Mission to Magadan on Facebook by clicking here, and support their work financially here.