Signs of rebirth” “

“I have been a priest for over 35 years and during my priesthood in Bulgaria the Communists destroyed four churches, whereas today we are seeing the birth of another four. That’s why I say that 2005 is a symbolic year for the rebirth of the Catholic Church in Bulgaria, because thanks to your tireless efforts we can once again build churches in Bulgaria today”, declared the President of the Bulgarian Bishops’ Conference, Monsignor Hristo Projkov. On Saturday 22 October he hailed the consecration, after 60 years, of two new Catholic churches at Sofia and at Hissar, at the end of the Year of the Eucharist. THE CHURCH OF POPE JOHN XXIII. One of the two churches has a particular history, since it was built on a plot of land purchased by the then Monsignor Roncalli (later to become John XXIII) who spent ten years in Bulgaria as apostolic legate. The church of Slav Byzantine rite was consecrated by 5 bishops, 28 priests, 32 sisters and 500 faithful, who had come from all over the country, and even from Italy, Macedonia and Ukraine. The guest bishops included Msgr. Kiro, exarch of Macedonia, Msgr. Milan Sciascic from Ukraine and the elderly Bulgarian bishop of Byzantine rite, Msgr. Metodi Stratiev. The rite was officiated by Bishop Projkov, and concelebrated by Bishop Gheorghi Jovcev of the diocese of Sofia-Plovdiv and the Apostolic Nuncio Msgr. Giuseppe Leanza. The foundation stone of the new church of the “Blessed John XXIII” was laid on 17 September 2001 and the authorities of the area and all the Catholic parishes in Bulgaria also contributed to its construction. “We began with a great deal of faith and very little money – recalled Msgr. Projkov – but the aid of our European brothers was not lacking, especially that of Aid to the Suffering Church, and also of Catholics in America, Argentina and the hometown of Pope John XXIII, Sotto il Monte”, from whence came a stone placed in the building’s foundations. Also present at the celebration was a grandnephew of the Blessed John XXIII from Bergamo. A special apostolic blessing was also received from Pope Benedict XVI through Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano “so that this new church may strengthen you in the witness of your faith”. A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL. “What is growing makes no noise – Bishop Gheorghi JOVCEV reminded the faithful present –; there’s no real religious boom in Bulgaria, but gradually things are falling back into place. We must remain united. May these new churches help us, so that others may say: see how they love one another”. “The new churches are an important event – the Apostolic Nuncio Msgr. Giuseppe Lenza – told SIR – not only for the individual communities and their dioceses, but also for the Catholic Church in Bulgaria as a whole, also because John XXIII, whom people call the “Bulgarian” pope here, is still alive in people’s memories because he loved this country and this church”. “This new church is for us – Msgr. Projkov told SIR – a concrete sign of united Europe and of Christian unity, since it is of Slav Byzantine rite. In the altar we placed the relics of saints from all over the world linked in some way with Bulgaria. They are the relics of some ten martyrs, of the Blessed Pope John XXIII and of St. Daxius whose relics were brought here by John Paul II in May 2002″. THE CHURCH OF HISSAR. The new church has been given the name “Holy Family of Nazareth” and was consecrated on Sunday 23 October. It is at the disposal of the local parish, some 200 faithful, coming from Latin Catholic towns and villages in the area. The new building is in fact the first Catholic church in the town and arouses joy also in the Orthodox community of the area: the Orthodox faithful, who find it impossible to reach the distant Orthodox church, will now have a sacred building closer to home in which they can pray. In this case too the then parish priest had bought the land some 60 years ago, but the arrival of Communism prevented its construction, which was possible only in 2004. “The Holy Family of Nazareth is very important for our society – said Msgr. Jovcev during the consecration -; it provides a model for our families. Without the family there is no Church”. “It’s really important to rediscover the meaning of the family – added the parish priest Father Dimitar Dimitrov -; in Bulgaria we need a strong family and in this sense the teaching of John Paul II and his successor Benedict XVI is indispensable for our pastoral work”. The next new Bulgarian church – the cathedral of Sofia – will be consecrated in May 2006 on the fourth anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to the country.