The first Bulgarian Catholic priest was ordained on 5 May, after 55 years. He is Father Stefan Calapish of the diocese of Nicopolis (Northern Bulgaria). According to Vatican Radio, the celebration was attended by all the members of the Bulgarian Bishops’ Conference, the Apostolic Nuncio of the country, Msgr. Giuseppe Leanza, many priests, men and women religious, the editorial staff of the Catholic newspaper Istina-veritas and hundreds of faithful. A large screen was installed outside the church of Belene to allow the throng to follow the ordination ceremony. “Celebrating the sacraments – said Bishop Petko Hristov in his homily – is a noble task for which we need to sanctify our life everyday. Only by following Christ – added the bishop – can we serve God and man well”. The diocese of Nicopolis has 16 parishes that are served by only 11 priests, of whom 9 are foreign missionaries. Fr Stefan Calapisc is the first Bulgarian of the diocese to be ordained after the Communist period; the small local community hopes that others will follow his example. Another two Bulgarian seminarians are now completing their theological studies in Rome before becoming priests.
