Bulgarian parishes have been undergoing a process of change ever since the fall of the Communist regime 14 years ago. Before that it was difficult to prepare the faithful for the sacraments, which were often administered without preparation. As the first step, efforts were made to propose a permanent sacramental ministry from childhood and adolescence onwards. A helping hand was given by missionaries, given the shortage of priests in the country. The reconstruction of the parishes in Bulgaria also takes the form of rebuilding churches and parish centres. At the present time four new churches are being built: two in Sofia, one at Kalojanovo, close to Plovdiv, and one at Pleven in northern Bulgaria. Now attention is being focused on catechesis and a ministry of formation to diffuse greater knowledge of Vatican Council II and the teaching of the Church. Language and computer courses, youth clubs, choirs, recreational centres and other facilities have been introduced. Parish councils have also been introduced in northern Bulgaria. The parish is open to the collaboration of laity who are destined to play an ever-greater role. The disparity between the parishes of the big cities and small rural communities remains great. In the cities there often exists only one Catholic parish that becomes a point of encounter for Catholics from the whole area. In the smaller towns and villages the parish is a meeting place for the young. “Today parishes are far more vital and full of people in the cities says Passionist Father Remo Gambacorta from Malcika, a town in the diocese of Russe -. We note a depopulation of the smaller centres; people move to the cities, because there are no prospects for the young here. The movements still have difficulty in gaining a foothold, because in people’s minds meeting together in organizations recalls the Communist part”.
