Dear Prayer Partner,

Participants in the far Eastern Catholic Young Adult Conference, Vladivostok, Russia, July 28-August 2, 2026

Thank you for all your prayers! The far-Eastern Catholic Young Adult Conference went so well. There were 52 participants, including four priests, a deacon, and six sisters, and all stayed at Dom Marii! All the men (18) were in the finished attic on mattresses, and almost all the women had a bed or a couch on the second floor. The theme, “Love and Marriage in the Plan of God” was beautifully presented by guests from Novosibirsk diocese: Sr. Juliana Gostkowska, SSPS, and a married couple, Mark and Alina Baginski with their six year old daughter, Veronika.

The basic schedule was prayer, Mass, conferences and lunch in the morning, and outings in the afternoon, including the Oceanarium, a cook-out, swimming at the beach, and a tour of the city, with various evening activities such as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a praise and worship night, and a talent show. During the Holy Hour one night, each of us received a “letter from God” with scripture verses addresses to us, in an envelope sealed with wax. We were each invited to respond with our own letter to God, which we then placed in a sealed envelope on the altar, and later got to keep.

Two of the points commented on during the week were that love is more of a choice than a feeling, and that the sacrament of marriage is not a restriction but a blessing. Mark and Alina shared that when they chose to be married in the Church, they both knew they were committing to stay together for life. They said that this has freed them to put all their energy into resolving their conflicts rather than be distracted by an “emergency exit” of possible divorce.

When asked at the end what their feelings were as they prepared to return home, almost everyone said they were filled with “gratitude, inspiration, faith, hope and love.” Hopefully we will all meet again next year, maybe even for World Youth Day in Seoul August 3-8, 2027!

Praise God!--Sister Faustina passed her driving exam the day before the conference started! Mother Stella has to wait until January to try again, but at least we’re mobile now.

On the feast of the Transfiguration, a carpenter and his wife came to Dom Marii to discuss the plans for the chapel. They have several children, and they shared that their dream is to open their own wood-shop. Currently, he uses a friend’s shop after-hours. He is the carpenter who made beautiful wooden pews for the Catholic church in Nakhodka. He said he has a building started on their little farm and glass for windows, just needs to add an upper floor, electricity, and purchase the needed used equipment, the equivalent of $25-30,000. Do you know someone who might like to donate this? It would help him to make our convent reredos, altar and pews much faster, and he could serve other parishes, too.

August Prayer Petitions:

1. In thanksgiving for the young adult conference at Dom Marii July 28-August 2: safe travel, for all to continue drawing closer to our Lord, to discern their vocation and find their future spouses.
   
   
2. For the children who participate in the after-school center in Romanovka, where Sr. Mary Helen and our brothers volunteer.
   
   
3. For our brother Canons to be able to receive permanent residency to serve the Church in Russia.
   
   
4. For peace and for priests, brothers and sisters to serve the Church in Russia.

From Mother Julia, in a recent conversation: “Love Jesus with all your heart. Adore God the Father with all your being. Find the Blessed Mother and do as much for her as you can. Thank you for your love, thank you for your prayers, thank you for your work.”

We are so grateful for your prayers! You are also in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Email is the best way to reach us. We have not had access to our voice messages through the cell phone since arriving here last August. Also, WhatsApp works on the Russian number, but not the US number: +7 924 729-3992.

In Jesus and Mary,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina and Sr. Mary Helen

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:
Best Phone Number 816-585-7202 (Currently not available)
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]
General Support [email protected]
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Partial Photo of the “Vacation with God” kids gathering June 23-28, with participants from Blagoveshchensk and Vladivostok. Adults pictured L-R: Christopher, medical student, Sr. Faustina, Mother Stella, Sr. Bernadetta, OP, Sr. Mary Helen and Br. Andrew from the Canons Regular of Jesus the Lord, in front of the Vladivostok harbor.

June was a great month! Thank you for your prayers. As an update from last month’s petitions, five children did receive their First Holy Communion on June 7 and four of them participated in the children’s gathering at our convent the last week of June! We hosted eleven children from Blagoveshchensk ages nine to seventeen who traveled 24 hours by train to Vladivostok with Sr. Bernadetta, OP, Fr. Stepan, SVD, and a parent. Ten children from our parish joined them along with a chaperone and the three of us, plus at least one of our brother priests or brothers each day. Each day we began with catechesis and Mass and in the afternoons, we went to the bay, to the Oceanarium, the zoo and even a “Museum of Illusions,” as well as crafts, games and sports.

A spiritual highlight was during Eucharistic adoration one evening, when Father invited everyone to come forward and kneel in front of Jesus. At one point, the five youngest children went up together, three of whom had just received their first communion a few weeks before. This was truly a “let the little children come to Me”(Matt. 19:14) moment!

Thank you for praying for our driving exams. Sister Faustina and Mother Stella have not passed the driving portion yet, but we know we will eventually! Sister Faustina’s next test is hopefully in August.

Right now our days are filled with preparations for the 28th annual far Eastern Catholic young adult conference which we will host from July 28 to August 2! Participants are traveling from as far as Yakutsk, several days away by train, and from Khabarovsk, 13 hours by train, Lesozavodsk (five hours) and Nakhodka (three hours) and of course Vladivostok. The theme is “Love and Marriage in the Plan of God” and we have a record number of participants. We just purchased two bunk beds and are borrowing many cotton mattresses! Please pray that this is a great occasion of grace and that some even meet their future spouses.

July Prayer Petitions:

1. For the young adult conference at Dom Marii July 28-August 2: safe travel, for all to draw closer to our Lord, and for some to discern their vocation and find their future spouses.
   
   
2. For the continued spiritual growth of the children who attended the gathering in June.
   
   
3. For our brother Canons to be able to receive permanent residency to serve the Church in Russia.
   
   
4. For Peace.

Here is a beautiful prayer you may know, the Anima Christi, that mentions the Blood of Christ. In this month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Christ, we invite you to pray:


We are so grateful for your prayers! You are also in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Email is the best way to reach us. We have not had access to our voice messages through the cell phone since arriving here last August. Also, WhatsApp works on the Russian number, but not the US number: +7 924 729-3992.

In the Heart of Jesus,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina and Sr. Mary Helen

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:
Best Phone Number 816-585-7202 (Currently not available)
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]
General Support [email protected]
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,
L-R Sister Faustina, Sister Mary Helen, Our Lady of Fatima, Mother Stella May 13, 2026It is with great joy that I share with you the news that our postulant, Gracie, became a novice on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, and she is now Sr. Mary Helen, after St. Helena who discovered the True Cross.

The message of Our Lady of Fatima is especially meaningful for us because she asked the world to pray for the conversion of Russia. Our presence here is part of answering her call. She asked the three shepherd children to whom she appeared in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 to pray and offer penance for sinners and for peace, which is still so needed today.

Five university students also consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary on May 13 in our parish church. They used Fr. Michael Gaitley’s inspiring book, 33 Days to Morning Glory. We hope someday to get this translated into Russian. In the meantime, four students prepared in English and one in Spanish. May our Lady continue to bring each of us closer to her beloved Son!

Sr. Faustina and Sr. Mary Helen are in Kazakhstan for a week, visiting our brother Canons Regular, including Fr. Daniel Maurer, CJD!  This also fulfills the requirement for crossing the border every six months as part of Sr. Mary Helen’s visa.

It is always a joy to visit with Mother Julia, our foundress, at the Maryknoll motherhouse, over zoom, usually every two weeks. Here are some of her words of wisdom we have been treasuring from a few months ago, that seem especially appropriate now after Pentecost:

“Pay attention to the Holy Spirit! His voice just wraps your heart” (to Sr. Faustina);

“You have to keep the fire of hope burning for Russia, for the faith to grow and embrace the people” (to Mother Stella);

“Stay close to Jesus--He has it all wrapped up, beautifully decorated and ready to go--just run with it. Every person you meet, wherever you go, He’s got it wrapped up for you.” (For then Gracie, now Sr. Mary Helen).

She also said in regard to evangelization, that: “The Holy Spirit is so filled with His job of embracing the world that you just have to hold on to Him. He will lead you through it all. [The holy Trinity] knows what to do, which way to go, how to do it, just hang on!”

Today, she said “It’s all God’s work, and He knows how to do it.” and “We need our Mother’s help, that’s for sure!” Amen.

June Prayer Petitions:

1. For the five children receiving their First Holy Communion on June 7 at our parish
2. For Mother Stella as she takes the Russian driving exams on June 8 and 9.
3. For the children coming from Blagoveshchensk for a gathering at Dom Marii the last week of June and for the young adult conference at Dom Marii July 28-August 2.
4. For our brother Canons to be able to receive permanent residency to serve the Church in Russia.
5. For Peace.

Here is a beautiful prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that we invite you to pray with us as a novena from June 3-June 12:


We are so grateful for your prayers! You are also in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Email is the best way to reach us. We have not had access to our voice messages through the cell phone since arriving here last August. Also, WhatsApp works on the Russian number, but not the US number: +7 924 729-3992.

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus fill you with His love,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina and Sr. Mary Helen

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202 (Currently not available)
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]
General Support [email protected]
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

L-R Front row: Mother Stella, Hiroko Inoue, Fr. Myron, Br Vipin Jose; Back row: Gracie, Sr. Faustina, Fr Hubert, Br. Andrew, Vladimir (office staff) April 25, 2026, Vladivostok

Happy Eastertide! And happy month of May--Mary’s month.

Two weekends ago, we had exceptionally wonderful Easter organ concerts played by a Japanese virtuoso, Hiroko Inoue, who resides in Moscow. The two concerts were sold out! Mother Stella was the announcer for the concert, and gave explanations about each piece and its connection with the Resurrection of Jesus and the Christian faith. For many of the concert-goers, it was their first time in our beautiful church. The next concerts are in early June.

Gracie had a beautiful pre-novitiate retreat at our convent last week, led by our own Fr. Hubert, CJD, from Indonesia. She enters the novitiate on May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.

When our Lady appeared to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, she told them to ask the world to pray for the conversion of Russia. At that time, Russia was known to be a strongly Christian nation, but everything changed a few months later after the Russian Revolution in October, 1917. Seven students have been faithfully praying the 33 days of preparation for consecration to Mary using Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book, 33 Days to Morning Glory, and they will consecrate themselves to our Lady on May 13 before an evening Mass.

The Catholic international students from the local universities continue to gather here at the parish weekly. Recent programs included a praise and worship night with Fr. Hubert, CJD, and Fr Patrick, CJD and also a funeral Mass for the father of one of our students from Nigeria. Tomorrow night will be preparation for Pentecost, all about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

A Bible study for healing after abuse, especially sexual abuse, has just been translated into Russian. It will be such a blessing to offer this soon across Russia. Every team that leads Rachel’s Vineyard retreats here for healing after abortion has expressed a need for this as well.

May Prayer Petitions:

1. 1. For Gracie as she prepares to become a novice on May 13.
      
      
   2. For all the newly baptized, that they will faithfully continue to pray and come to Mass.
      
      
   3. For Peace.
      
      
   4. For our brother Canons to be able to receive permanent residency to serve the Church in Russia.
      
      
   5. For the Rachel’s Vineyard retreats in Irkutsk, May 8-10 and in Kansas City, May 29-31.

We are so grateful for your prayers! You are also in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Email is the best way to reach us. We have not had access to our voice messages through the cell phone since arriving here last August.

May our Lady cover you with her mantle,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina, and Gracie

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]
General Support [email protected]
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Christ is risen! He is truly risen!! Happy Easter!!

We have had a month abundant with the Lord’s blessings—your prayers bore fruit! The Rachel’s Vineyard retreat went very well, March 13-15. Twelve women participated and many children’s lives were honored.

On March 22, one of our brothers from the Canons Regular of Jesus the Lord was ordained to the diaconate in Vladivostok. Deacon Lloyd has the true heart of a servant, generously driving long distances so the priests can say Mass at mission parishes.

Two days later was the Chrism Mass in Vladivostok. We were blessed to host five religious in our convent for the event. Since our diocese is the largest in the world (approximately the size of the continental US), it can take four days by train to travel from one side of the diocese to the other. Thus, our Bishop has two Chrism Masses so that more priests can participate without missing Sunday Masses due to travel time. During his visit to Vladivostok, Bishop Kirill gathered all the priests and religious from the eastern half of the diocese to give us encouragement and important instructions for the year.

Five young adults were baptized and four more entered the Church this Easter, including four university students. Mother Stella was asked to be the godmother for one young woman. What a joy it must bring to the Heart of Christ that these young people turned to Him and received His mercy. His suffering for them was not in vain. Jesus now lives in them.

We will be in Russia this summer. A group of students start the 33 days of preparation for Consecration to Mary this Friday, leading up to May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Gracie will start the novitiate this May. There will be a children’s gathering at the end of June at our convent, and the 28th annual Far Eastern Catholic youth/young adult conference in Vladivostok and Russian Island at the end of July. He is Risen! Alleluia!

April Prayer Petitions:

1. For those who entered the Church on Easter, that they may remain faithful to Jesus to the end.
2. For peace.  For Deacon Lloyd, that he may be a holy servant of God and may prepare well for ordination to the priesthood.
3. For those who are thinking of taking their own life, that Christ may bring light to their mind and hope to their heart.
4. For Gracie as she prepares to become a novice this May.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Email is the best way to reach us. We have not had access to our voice messages through the cell phone since arriving here last August.

With prayers and gratitude in Christ for you,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina, and Gracie

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New 
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]
General Support [email protected]
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Spring is in the air, as the ice melts and the smell of the earth returns. We treasure this Lenten season of seeking to draw ever closer to the Lord, to become more aware of His presence with us, searching our hearts with the help of the Holy Spirit to root out whatever is not of Him, in order to love as He loves!

The parish celebrated Fr. Myron’s 85th birthday on Feb. 8 (the day after his birthday) with songs, words of appreciation, and a beautiful slide show of pictures from his 35 years of service in Vladivostok. Fr. Myron’s generosity and fidelity are an inspiration to us. May we follow his example!

The Catholic college group is a joyful highlight of each week. This month, we are learning about Ignatian prayer with Scripture, as well as participating in the Stations of the Cross and Adoration. Mother Stella is preparing two students for Confirmation. A medical student recently expressed his desire for Baptism, and another student just started coming to Mass faithfully after a long and earnest search for truth. The Holy Spirit is at work, and we are so grateful for your prayers that bear fruit in the souls of these young people!

This Saturday we will help host a parish Lenten retreat day. The theme is drawn from Pope Leo XIV’s message for Lent, and the day will include prayer, reflection, and an opportunity for Confession.

Gracie helps feed a little one at the children’s center in Romanovka. She volunteers there once a week, teaching English, playing chess, and simply giving the children loving attention.

Sr. Faustina and Mother Stella accompany Fr. Hubert to anoint a parishioner in the hospital before her operation. Such peace and strength come from the sacraments. What a joy it is to carry the Lord to those who need Him so much!

March Prayer Petitions:

1. For the young men and women preparing to enter the Church at Easter.
   
   
2. For those who will attend the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat on Russian Island March 13-15, that they may experience deep spiritual healing.
   
   
3. For Brother Lloyd who is preparing for ordination to the diaconate in Vladivostok on March 22, that he may be a holy and faithful deacon, and eventually, priest.
   
   
4. For the parishioners preparing for Confirmation on March 23.
   
   
5. For all Catholic priests and religious in Russia who are trying to apply for residency permits, that they will be granted, so they can serve for more than three months at a time, especially for our Canons Regular in Jesus the Lord, priests who are ready to serve here full time.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]. Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen, pray for us!

With prayers and gratitude in Christ for you,

        Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina and Gracie

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's our best and latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]  New
General Support [email protected]  New
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Christmas festival of Christian choirs, January 11, 2026, Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church

Since we last wrote you, we had the wonderful Christmas festival of Christian choirs at our church, with choirs from the Armenian Apostolic church, the Lutheran church, a Methodist church, a Presbyterian parish and our parish choir.

L-R Fr. Agustinus, Sr. Faustina, Fr. Filipus, Gracie, Fr. Jacob, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Gracie’s visa requires her to leave Russia every six months, so she and Sr. Faustina traveled to Kazakhstan last week to visit three of our brothers. From Gracie: We were welcomed to Karaganda with white roads, winter trees, chilly temperatures, and smiling faces. Although the forecast numbers were quite low (-40 F), it was nicer than most days in the Vladivostok winter wind. Father Filipus picked us up from the airport with a friend, and two other brothers, Father Agustinus and Father Jacob welcomed us all with a warm and filling breakfast. The parish where our brothers stay in Karaganda is the Basilica of Saint Joseph, where Bishop Joseph Werth was baptized, the one who ordained Fr. Daniel Maurer in Russia in 1992! Every weekday they have adoration in the evening for an hour before mass with a rosary and Benediction. From the first day, we discovered that whatever the brothers are doing, others are always welcome. Every day at their monastery there was a guest, family, or group over—for a meal, prayer, or even a short Catechesis lesson. The brothers model the missionary spirit and Catholic ministry in every aspect of their daily lives. Along with this missionary spirit also comes many parishes and lots of work. We joined one of our brothers to visit his parishes on Sunday for mass. The furthest parish was about one and a half hours away by car and the other parish was on the way back with a slight detour to deliver communion to a home-bound parishioner. This is the type of missionary service each of our brothers joyfully gives every Sunday. Each brother serves at a parish or community that is not close to home, and they also aid at the Basilica of Saint Joseph on the weekdays. We are so proud of our brothers and are in awe of the great things they are doing in Karaganda as priests and missionaries. Please pray for our brothers!

World Day of Consecrated Life in Vladivostok, Russia, February 2, 2026
L-R (back) Br. Andrew, Gracie, Sr. Mira, Br. Francis, Sr. Faustina, Br. Arslan, Sr. Olga, Fr. Peter, Br. Vipin Jose, Mother Stella; (front) Fr. Marcus, Fr. Myron, Sr. Evgenia, Fr. Vicky

On February 2, the Canons Regular of Jesus the Lord, the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne and our community gathered for the World Day of Consecrated Life. Over supper, each priest, brother or sister was invited to share something related to his/her vocation as a religious. Some brought a picture from when they became a novice or took vows, others told the story of how they first got interested in Russia and eventually made it here! Fr. Myron, the founder of our brother Canons and also founding pastor of our parish here, shared that he got interested in Russia at a young age, because the refrigerator factory where his father worked was asked to change production to airplane wings to assist Russia in World War II. Later, we realized that each one of us is here in Vladivostok because of Fr. Myron’s “yes” to his own vocation, which eventually led to the reopening of the Catholic church here in the Russian far East.

Our Rachel’s Vineyard team from Vladivostok and Ussurijsk had a wonderful encounter last Thursday—an online training with Dr. Theresa Burke from Pennsylvania, the author of the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat! It was the first time for any of our Russian team members to meet Dr. Burke. We used zoom, and her office has an additional feature, which allowed each participant to see subtitles in her own language—so Dr. Burke’s words were written in Russian, and the team’s Russian comments appeared in English for Dr. Burke. It was amazing. Not a perfect translation, but the team was so grateful for the training and the opportunity to talk together for over two hours with no internet problems. Our next retreat is March 13-15 here on Russian Island.

We continue to meet with Mother Julia over zoom every two or three weeks. She is well and it is such a blessing to get to visit with her from the Maryknoll Motherhouse in Ossining, New York! We often ask if she has any advice, and she always asks for our prayer requests. Recently, she said “Always remember to pray. Rejoice in God for all the good things we see coming out [of our prayers]. Ask for the Lord’s help in every way.”

Prayer Petitions

1. For all Catholic priests and religious in Russia who are trying to apply for residency permits, that they will be granted, so they can serve for more than three months at a time, especially for our Canons Regular in Jesus the Lord, priests who are ready to serve here full time.
   
   
2. For the young men and women preparing to enter the Church at Easter.
   
   
3. For Brother Lloyd who is preparing for ordination to the diaconate March 22, and for the parishioners preparing for Confirmation on March 23.
   
   
4. For young women and men to say “yes” to becoming sisters and priests for the Catholic Church in Russia.
   
   
5. For peace in the world, and for all those who are suffering in war-torn countries.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected].

With prayers and gratitude in Christ for you,

        Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina and Gracie

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's the latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]  New
General Support [email protected]  New
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We are so grateful for your prayers.

Nativity at Dom Marii, December 26, 2025. Candles were brought to baby Jesus in procession by our university students at our annual Christmas party.

English Mass, Christmas Day, Most Holy Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Vladivostok.

Brother, sisters and students on Christmas Day in Vladivostok with Fr. Edwin, CJD.

This has been a very joyous Christmas season! Our university students were on break December 25-January 8, so we have been celebrating Christmas especially with them. We started with Masses in Russian on Christmas eve and day, then in English and Spanish on Christmas day afternoon. Our annual Christmas party at Dom Marii was on December 26. On New Year’s Eve, we had a Mass with the students and all-night adoration. On New Year’s day, students came over for a delicious Indian dinner, sung vespers and games, and they spent the night! Several of the most special times were singing the liturgy of the hours with the students in three- and four-part harmony. We also enjoyed an ice-skating day with a New Year’s reflection, the Nutcracker ballet at the opera-ballet theater, a movie night with “A Christmas Carol”, and caroling at a local mental hospital with our parish choir. Another day we went cross-country skiing at a free place on Russian Island.

Evangelization through music is something we love! The professional Christmas concerts this year December 27 and 28 went well—a full community event, with helping set everything up and Mother Stella played the harp, too. Sunday, January 11, is the Christmas festival of Christian choirs at our church, with choirs from the Armenian Orthodox church, the Lutheran church, a Methodist church, a Presbyterian parish and our Catholic Vietnamese parishioners all singing with our Russian parish choir in a free concert, followed by tea together.

Biggest answer to prayer! Three new priests: L-R: Fr. Pradeep, CJD, Fr. Peter, CJD, Fr. Edwin, CJD.

Praise God! Your prayers and ours were answered earlier than expected!! Bishop Kirill of Irkutsk called Father Myron on December 9 to say that he would be flying to Vladivostok to ordain our three brother deacons to the priesthood on the fourth Sunday of Advent! What a joy it is to have three new brother priests! Fr. Edwin and Fr. Pradeep have been here for the entire Christmas season, and celebrated Mass at five different parishes, as well as at our convent. Fr. Peter is studying in Siberia and we hope he will be able to continue studies in Vladivostok next year.

1. For all Catholic priests and religious in Russia who are trying to apply for residency permits, that they will be granted, so they can serve for more than three months at a time, especially for our Canons Regular in Jesus the Lord, priests who are ready to serve here full time.
   
   
2. For unity with the Russian Orthodox church, as we pray during the week of Christian Unity: Jan 18-25.
   
   
3. For young women and men to say “yes” to becoming sisters and priests for the Catholic Church in Russia.
   
   
4. For peace in the world, and for all those who are suffering in war-torn countries.
   
   

As a gift for you this Christmas, three Masses are being offered for you and your intentions.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected].

In Joy of Christ's birth,

Mother M. Stella, Sr. Faustina, and Gracie

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
P.P.S. Here's the best and latest contact data:

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]  New
General Support [email protected]  New
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Prayer Partner,

Happy Advent!  Thank you so much for your prayers.  You make out mission possible!

 Catholic College Student All Saints Day at Our Lady of Fatima parish center, Vladivostok—Sisters with cooks and helper

November was filled with new beginnings: Gracie got to start teaching English informally to children in Romanovka, we attended a friend’s baby’s baptism at a local Orthodox church, we had our first snow fall of the season and a new little parishioner started coming to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd!

Little Alisa whispered to her mother last Sunday when most parishioners were heading home after tea “can we go to that room?” She meant the “atrium” where she experiences Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with Sr. Faustina. She loved her time there again.

The Rachel’s Vineyard retreat November 7-9 went very well. We had thirteen participants, including three medical personnel and two men. It was such a blessing to be part of the healing on our team of six. Before the retreat, thanks to our donors, we purchased twenty comfortable chairs that we found at a good second-hand store in town. There are already five people signed up for the next retreat in March.

Our driving tests should be in the next week or two—it would be great to have our Russian licenses by Christmas!

Most recently, we have been praying different forms of Catholic prayer with our Catholic college student group: lectio divina or praying with the Scriptures; a praise and worship evening; the rosary with meditations; and this Friday, a Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Almost every week, someone brings a friend, so our group continues to grow. We look forward to our annual Christmas party with the college students the Friday after Christmas.
        
Gracie has been baking cakes or pies almost every week for our brothers who arrive or depart to renew their visas. At Fr. Myron’s request, she even made a banana cream pie and a cherry pie for Thanksgiving.

Gracie and a Helper

Please continue to pray that our brothers will be able to apply for residency permits so that Fr. Myron will not be the only resident priest for five parishes! He is the only priest right now until at least Christmas.

L-R Fr. Peter Mary, CJD, Fr. Patrick Napal, CJD, (both back in their home countries now), Our Lady of Fatima, Mother Stella, Sr. Faustina, Gracie.

December Prayer Petitions:

 

1. For our three brother candidates as they become novices on December 7, for Br. Ruben as he professes his first vows on December 8, and for Deacons Edwin, Pradeep and Peter as they continue to prepare for ordination to the priesthood as Canons Regular of Jesus the Lord.
2. For all Catholic priests and religious in Russia who are trying to apply for residency permits, that they will be granted, so they can serve for more than three months at a time.
   
3. For the young women the Lord is calling to be sisters with us.
   
4. For all who will come to the Christmas liturgies and to our professional Christmas concerts December 27 and 28, that they will be filled with a longing to know Jesus.

Here is a beautiful prayer we are praying each day until Christmas:


 
With the Blessed Mother awaiting the birth of Jesus,Mother M. Stella, CJD
 
P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.

Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]  New
General Support [email protected]  New
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33

Dear Friends of Sisters in Jesus the Lord,

This month, November, is dedicated especially to prayers for the souls of those who have died. We are praying for all our deceased benefactors and prayer partners.This has been a busy month! We hosted the Catechetical training conference for our part of the diocese for the first time at Dom Marii! We had two excellent presenters—one on Christian pedagogy, Russian culture and the Foundations of Christianity, and another on the history of the Russian Far East before it was Russia—when it was still Manchuria. It turns out that the first missionaries in what is now Vladivostok were French Catholics!
Thanks to your prayers, the drainage was completed around Dom Marii before any frosts (see picture while they were working, below). In the spring, we plan to make the area around our convent beautiful.  

Sr. Faustina and I are continuing our driving instruction. We completed the theory classes and start the driving portion tomorrow. Most likely we will be ready for the driving tests by early December.  

Last Saturday, Gracie went to Romanovka to “Tropinka”, the after school center for children run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne. In addition to being with the children, she was able to see the land where it might be possible to build a chapel! Fr. Myron has asked her to contribute to the building plans, since she studied architecture.

We have been preparing for our Rachel’s Vineyard retreat which will be Nov 7-9. Praise God—we have twelve confirmed participants, and already four wanting to come in the spring.

The Catholic college student group is continuing to grow—most recently, our brothers prepared excellent talks on the purpose of life—why God created us.  The sharing during dinner continues to bring all of us closer together, so that we are truly like a family.  

On a very somber note, we were all looking forward to Fr. Daniel Maurer, CJD’s return to Vladivostok, but he was not allowed to enter the country last week after landing in the Vladivostok airport. He is the pastor of our parish and the co-founder of our brother community, the Canons Regular in Jesus the Lord. He flew back through China and Korea to California. We do not know if it will be possible for him to return.  Please pray that our brothers will be able to apply for residency permits so that Fr. Myron will not be the only resident priest for five parishes! All of our brothers except our Russian one are on 3 month visas.  

1. For all Catholic priests and religious in Russia who are trying to apply for residency permits, that they will be granted, so they can serve for more than 3 months at a time, especially for our brother Canons Regular in Jesus the Lord.
   
   
2. For the repose of the souls of parishioners, benefactors and prayer partners, and all the souls in purgatory.
   
   
3. For the young women the Lord is calling to be sisters with us, and for our brothers preparing to become novices.
   
   
4. For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Rachel’s Vineyard retreat Nov 7-9, for deep healing.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to [email protected]

In Jesus,
Mother Stella, CJD

P.S. For those of you who donate financially as well as through prayers, we have stream-lined online giving now through our new donation management platform called Donor Perfect. Use any phone's camera to get to our new giving link using the QR code below. Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
Best Phone Number 816-585-7202
Prayer Petitions [email protected]  New Send us your prayer petitions
General Email [email protected]
Donation Questions [email protected]  New
General Support [email protected]  New
Facebook http://facebook.com/SistersinJesustheLord33