The 25th anniversary of presence of the Redemptoristine Nuns was celebrated on Sunday, June 21, 2026 in Petropavlovsk, northern Kazakhstan. Their monastery is located near the church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the oldest surviving Catholic Church in the city, which survived the period of Soviet persecution.
For a quarter of a century, the nuns have been a sign of prayer, silence, and hope for the local community. Through their contemplative life, daily witness to their faith, and cordial encounters with people, they open hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The convent is not only visited by those connected to Polish culture, tradition, or Christianity. Among them are those who do not yet know Christ, and even Muslims seeking peace, dialogue, prayer, and spiritual support.
Numerous guests attended the jubilee celebration. The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Tomasz Peta of the Archdiocese of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Astana. Also present were Father Andrzej Michoń CSsR, currently serving in Albania, who served as parish priest in this parish years ago, as well as priests from several Polish dioceses.
Among the guests were the superior of the Warsaw Province of the Redemptorists, Father Dariusz Paszyński CSsR, and the superior of the mother community of the Redemptoristine Sisters of Bielsko-Biała, Sister Beata Figura OSsR. Their presence underscored the connection of the Pietropawłów community with the entire Redemptorist Family.
Father Zbigniew Kotliński, CSsR, also attended the liturgy. Just four days earlier, he had celebrated the 70th anniversary of his priesthood. It was he, years ago, who invited the Redemptoristine nuns to go to the East, to Siberia, where their presence became a source of spiritual comfort for many.
An exceptional sign of mutual respect and Christian brotherhood was the presence of Orthodox Bishop Włodzimierz. The celebration was enriched by a concert by the Cathedral’s Orthodox choir. The shared singing of the prayer became a beautiful testimony to the fact that faith can unite people despite differences in tradition and ritual.
After the Eucharist and the artistic performance, all participants gathered in the convent garden for a communal meal. It was a moment of joy, gratitude, and shared celebration—for the 25 years of faithful presence of the Redemptoristine Nuns, for their prayer, their hidden service, and the goodness that is born every day in the hearts of those who encounter them.
Fr. Paweł Mroczek, CSsR.
Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan
(source: www.redemptor.pl)
