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.

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

L-R Fr. Edwin, CJD, Fr. Myron, CJD, Fr. Pradeep, CJD; Br. Vipin Jose, Christopher, Br. Andrew, Br. Francis (The three brothers became novices Dec 7). Mass during the Christmas season.January 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 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.
   
   

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

Gracie and a Helper

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.

Mother M. Stella, CJD

Catechetical training conference, Vladivostok, Oct 2-5, 2025, Dom Marii Chapel

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.

Dear Prayer Partner,

Happy Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of the missions and of Catholics in Russia!  

Many good things have have happened in this past month—especially the blessing of attending our diocesan conference September 17-21 in Irkutsk, near Lake Baikal. Over eighty people from our diocese attended, including 27 priests, two bishops, at least 45 sisters and a handful of laypeople. Our gathering was in honor of the 25^th anniversary of the dedication of the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Irkutsk, Russia (Sept 8, 2000) and in honor of our Bishop Kirill Klimovich’s 25^th anniversary of his ordination as bishop. Even the former bishop of Irkutsk, Bishop Jerzy Mazur from Poland, flew in for the occasion. It was such an encouragement to be together, to share experiences. Thank you for your prayers! We had not had such a diocesan-wide gathering in at least eight years, because our diocesan territory is a little larger than the continental United States! God rolled out the red carpet for our postulant Gracie’s first six weeks in Russia : )

Other good news—thanks to your prayers, after waiting over three years for drainage to be done around Dom Marii, our convent, our foreman announced that he was ready to proceed. His crew started last week, and it is great to see the full original facade that was buried under erosion from the hill above us, behind the convent. Thankfully, the rains have been holding off and it looks like the project will be completed successfully before any downpours.

1. For Our Lady of the Rosary’s intercession for residency permits for our brother deacons and priests, who are currently on three- month visas, and for more priests and religious to serve Catholics in Russia.
   
   
2. For the Rachel’s Vineyard retreat in Kansas City, Missouri October 17-19, for the Rachel’s Vineyard in Irkutsk and for the next Rachel’s Vineyard in Vladivostok, hopefully in early November, that the women and men most in need of healing will learn about this and have the courage to come.
   
   
3. For the successful completion of the drainage around Dom Marii, and the protection of all the workers.
   
   
4. For peace in the world, let us pray:

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God;

despise not our petitions in our necessities,

but deliver us always from all dangers,

O glorious and blessed Virgin.

With love and gratitude in Christ,

Mother Stella, CJD

L-R: Gracie, Karolyn Lobash, Sara Schlies, Mother Stella, Sr. Faustina, Fr Daniel Maurer

• For safe travels for the Sisters in Jesus the Lord on their way to Russia August 8-10.
• For those who were baptized or entered the Church this year, that they may persevere in faith and continue to grow in their relationship with the Lord.
• For the CORSUM meeting (for superiors of religious communities in Russia) August 18-22, that it may bear fruit for the entire Church.
• For college students who are struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, that Christ may enlighten their minds and restore peace and hope to their hearts.

Sisters in Jesus the Lord Prayer Update and Petitions March-April 2025

Our temporary chapel in Dom Marii, at last in its permanent location!  Reredos and pews to come!

Parish retreat day, March 29, 2025, Most Holy Mary, Mother of God Catholic Church, Vladivostok

1. For Brothers Edwin, Peter and Pradeep as they prepare for ordination to the diaconate on Sunday, April 6, that they will be holy deacons and eventually holy priests!
2. For all those who will receive the sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Kirill this Saturday, April 5.
3. For the two students we are preparing to enter the Catholic Church this Easter, and for all who are preparing for baptism and entering the Church.
4. For unity among Christians, especially this Easter as Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Churches all celebrate Easter on the same day!
5. For the young women being called to join us, especially for the one in America most likely becoming a postulant soon.

Dear Prayer Partner,
 
May God bless you abundantly for your prayers this last month!  This past January was filled with many graces and great joy and has certainly proved to be a wonderful beginning of the New Year!

At the Student Group in the Bishop Slivovsky Room, Vladivostok, January 25, 2025

1. For the steady work and safety of those renovating Dom Marii, our convent on Russian Island.
2. For the six students who will make a three-day Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat February 9-12 in Khabarovsk, Russia, and for safe travel for them and for us on the train.
3. For Sr. Joanna, that the Lord will help her in this time of transition, and that He will continue to lead her as she takes the next steps on her vocational journey.
4. For the young woman who has applied to join our community, that the Lord will continue to bless and guide her during this time.
5. For the catechumens who wish to enter the Church this Easter, that their growing faith will take deep and lasting root in their hearts.
6. You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to this email.

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you so much for your prayers!  We hope that you have had a most blessed and grace-filled Christmas and that the Christ Child will continue to fill your hearts with his peace and light during this New Year!

In our convent chapel, newly decorated for Christmas on December 24, 2024

1. For the steady work and safety of those renovating Dom Marii, our convent on Russian Island.
   
   
2. For two students and other people who wish to enter the Church this Easter, that their faith and relationship with Christ will continue to grow and mature.
   
   
3. For the young women that God is calling to join our community, particularly for a young woman who has applied to join us.  
   
   
4. For the health of Fr. Sebastian d’ Silva, pastor of Our Lady of the Pacific Parish in Nakhodka, about a 3 ½ drive Southeast of Vladivostok, who has been in the hospital since Christmas.

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you so much for your prayers!  Here we are in Advent, preparing for the joyous birth of Jesus in just a few weeks.

With parishioners and guests after our music concert before Mass, Lesozavodsk, November 23, 2024Our prayers petitions of last month are being answered!

This past month has been so filled with blessings—Sr. Joanna and I were able to visit the Catholic parish in Lesozavodsk (a five and a half hour drive north) and give a concert there, as well as visit an elderly Catholic who has Mass only six times per year.  The parish there has Mass only once a month but continues to give a little bag of food to seventy impoverished children each week and has a very active pro-life center.  Through the generosity of a benefactor, we are able to supplement the pro-life center’s funds for diapers and baby formula.

Renovations here on Russian Island resumed on Monday, December 2.  Apartment 5, where we first lived in 2014, has need of much repair.  Cracks that developed in the plaster from a previous crew that worked too quickly will soon be fixed in the kitchen and apt 7.  A small bathroom is being added to the attic.  The last steps needed for our convent should start this spring—drying out the foundation and improving the drainage, as well as tuck-pointing the façade.  An architect is helping us with the design for our convent chapel.

At the grocery store near our parish, we ran into the son of one of our most faithful parishioners, Maria Egorovna.  She died in April 2023, but never had a Catholic funeral or burial due to a communication error.  On November 28, Fr. Daniel Maurer, CJD, our pastor, celebrated a beautiful memorial Mass for her.  Her son and daughter-in-law and daughter were able to attend, as well as several parishioners.  Following the Mass, we drove to her grave and Fr. Patrick Napal, CJD, blessed it.  A little bird started singing during the graveside ceremony. Everyone joined us afterwards at our convent for a little funeral lunch.

The Russian and English language Catholic student groups continue to meet on Thursdays and Fridays.   The discussions have been profound. Last Friday, we had a joint holy hour, with confession.   The parish Advent retreat was last Saturday, December 7, a very grace-filled day. Four male candidates became brother novices this Saturday, December 7.  Three other brother canons professed their first vows on
December 8.  The parish children are practicing on Sundays for the nativity skit for Christmas Eve.

Prayer Petitions for December:

1. For the steady work and safety of those renovating Dom Marii, our convent on Russian Island.

2. For all those who have fallen away from their faith in Jesus, that their hearts will be rekindled with a desire to love Him this Advent and Christmas, especially former parishioners in Vladivostok and current students at the university.

3. For the young women the Lord is calling to be sisters with us.

4. For the health of Fr. Sebastian d’ Silva, pastor of Our Lady of the Pacific Parish in Nakhodka, about a 3 ½ drive Southeast of Vladivostok.

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

In joyful anticipation of Jesus’ birth,

Mother M. Stella, CJD

Here’s a beautiful prayer you might want to offer daily through Christmas Eve:

St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires (mention your intentions here), through the merits of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you so much for your prayers!  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.

Catechetical training and family conference, Khabarovsk, Oct 31-Nov 3, 2024 We just had the great blessing of attending our diocesan Catechetical training conference October 31-Nov 3 in Khabarovsk, Russia. This city is still in our deanery, but is 11-13 hours north by train, depending on which one you take!  The three of us traveled by night train and we stayed with the Servidora sisters.  The first two days were training for us, followed by a family conference for the parish.  The theme was
marriage and family.  The adults broke into small groups to discuss difficulties in married life.  Our main presenter was Pavel Savchenkov, who used to lead the far Eastern Catholic youth conferences (seated next to Fr. Jose, IVE).  The children enjoyed being with Sr. Faustina, Sr. Joanna and Sr. Peina, one of the Servidora sisters.
 
It turns out the organist was away, so we were asked to lead the music each day, which was a great joy for us, and they enjoyed the singing!
 
Other news: two weeks ago, Sr. Faustina and Sr. Evgenia of the Sisters of the Charity of St. Anne, who also serve here in Vladivostok, were able to restart a Russian language young adult group for the parish!  They had a great first meeting and plan to meet on Thursday evenings.  The English language student group continues to flourish on Friday evenings.
 
November 21-23, we look forward to visiting Lesozavodsk, one of the Vladivostok satellite parishes, with Fr. Myron.  Fr. Vicky, our brother canon, has been having Mass there monthly, and we have not been in over a year.  With three of us here, one sister can lead the student group while the others go.  Sister Joanna looks forward to being with the children at the after-school center in Romanovka more often this month, on Tuesdays and some Saturdays.  She and Sr. Faustina are leading Catechesis of the Good Shepherd together for 3-6 year olds on Sundays.
 
Prayer Petitions 
 

1. For the resuming of our renovations on Russian Island, that the workers will be able to come soon to renovate the last apartment.
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 parish advent retreat day, December 7, in Vladivostok.

Prayer for those who have died:

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

R. And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

And may the souls of all the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.

You are in our prayers daily. Please email any prayer petitions you may have to this email.
 
In Jesus,

Mother M. Stella, CJD