Missionary Projects

Our parishioners support two FOCUS missionaries, Alicia Fanning serving in Idaho, and MaKenna Ketter serving in South Dakota.

Learn more about FOCUS, discover the heart behind the mission, meet our missionaries and find out how you can support the apostolate.

Born in 1963, Fr. Anthony entered the Society of Jesus in Grand Coteau, La., in 1985 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1996. He has served as a missionary in Russia since 1997, shortly after the end of communism there. You can read an interview with him about his work HERE.

In 2022, Fr. Anthony met with Pope Francis on his visit to Kyrgyzstan. The visit was chronicled in the Dicocese of Tucson newsletter here.

You can read his most recent letter from January, 2023, here (or below).

In him was life, and that life was the light of all.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Jn. 1:4-5).

Dear Friends,

Warm greetings from a cold and snowy Central Asia. Our hopes are that your Christmas season and New Year celebrations have been joy-filled and have allowed for some renewal so that each of us can echo the ageless call of the saints: “nunc coepi—now I begin!”

Life in the Catholic community in Kyrgyzstan throughout the past year has brought much for which we are truly grateful. Mostly, we are grateful for the many daily blessings that we receive—and for the people, including yourselves—through whom we experience kindness and generosity.

God continues to be faithful and present to His simple Church in our country as elsewhere.  Through His goodness, the three main apostolic priorities of the Catholic Church have each moved forward during this time:

In the south of Kyrgyzstan, preparations are made for a move of priests and sisters to the major regional center of Osh.  There we will be able to strengthen the effort to reanimate the presence of the Church through pastoral, spiritual, academic, and charitable works. In brief, Christianity will be more visible and more accessible.

In the capital, the endeavor to construct the new cathedral church continues. We have received most permissions and have been able to gather resources necessary to begin the actual construction of the pastoral center and church building.

Our third area of special focus, the effort to strengthen pastoral service to people spread throughout the northern region is underway. Because of the wonderful generosity of benefactors, we have been able to provide space for chapels in two towns. Catholics here are finally able to gather in their own communities.

Undoubtedly, one of the most wonderful and directly “practical” graces of this year has been the arrival of Mother Teresa’s Sisters (MC’s) to open a home in Bishkek! Their presence has brought an immediate and marvelous witness to people of different religions and a great consolation to our own parishioners.  They join the School Sisters of St. Francis and Consolata Missionaries to provide that presence which is irreplaceably unique to women religious in a local Church. 

As always, the most significant grace is ongoing pastoral service to our communities and our ability to assist others in a modest yet evident witness of charity.  Our various works with the poor, with youth, and in the training of active laity for enhanced engagement and responsibility in the life of the Church remain sources of encouragement and hope.

The war in Ukraine and rather serious economic difficulties experienced by the people in this region of the world continue to bring social change and tensions. This dynamic brings much which causes continued, grave concern.  We realize that 2023 will be a time that includes harsh struggle for so many—here and elsewhere.  Ours is a challenge and call for “sober hope” in that realism that is Christianity, i.e., accepting all the temporary but real, unfolding of events here and now—always in the light of and in context of eternity—and for that ongoing conversion which alone will allow God to work with and among us. “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all.”

This is our prayer for you and your families: that the Light which brings life and encouragement will continue to grow.  We remain always deeply grateful for your support and accompaniment of our communities here.  We ask for your prayers and promise ours for you and for those who are close to you.  May God bless all of us in abundance and with the ever-increasing desire to know, love, and serve Him.

--Fr. Anthony Corcoran

Apostolic Administrator of Catholics in Kyrgyzstan

Epiphany 2023

www.catholic.kg

WhatsApp: Католическая Церковь

Facebook: Католическая Церковь Кыргызстана

Fr. Silas Bogati serves a small Catholic community in Nepal.

Fr. Silas Bogati on the Church in Nepal: “Our mission is to bring consolation and trust.” 

St. Andrew's parishioners recently helped fund the building of a Catholic chapel for the community.

Where is Nepal?

Below is Fr. Silas' most recent letter:

Dear Fr. Greg,

Greetings in Jesus’s Name!

Finally we have blessed the St. Andrew’s Church In Tulachan. The blessing was done with Parishioners and local community about 300 people gathered to celebrate mass and cultural program afterwards.

This will be an asset for catholic community to be able to worship. Bishop thanked everyone those who supported and he especially mentioned St. Andrew’s Parish and faithful in Arizona for the support. We are truly thankful for your support Father.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Silas Boga

Our parish supports Joan Martin on mission in Haiti.  " As disciples of Jesus we are called to love and to care for one another. We accept our call to reach out to all God's people, especially to those in need, so that the reign of God may be realized in our community, in our nation and in our world."

To learn more about her ministry

Father Greg's Did You Know from June, 2023

Did you know that we received a beautiful letter of thanks from Fr. Leonville Canois, who is returning to HAITI, following his year of sabbatical/medical treatment?  Fr. Leonville was the pastor of our “sister parish”, Mole St. Nicolas, in NW HAITI, and is now being reassigned within the Diocese of Port-de-Paix. Fr. Leonville’s letter was a ‘thank you’ for all the support received from St. Andrew’s/Good Shepherd parishioners, and a heart-felt appeal that we will not forget our sisters and brothers in Mole St. Nicolas!

Through our own Joan Martin (now living in Indiana), we have kept in touch with the situation in Mole St. Nicolas and the desperate need in HAITI, where the collapse of government has made conditions chaotic. One of the ‘points of light’ is a Parish, like Mole St. Nicolas, where spiritual life continues to grow and whose small parish schools continues to educate and give hope to children and their families.

Because of serious health concerns, Joan is unable to return to HAITI at this time and is also restricted on travel. She will not be able to be with us personally next weekend but has made a video presentation to share with us, to ask for our continued support for our “sister parish” – especially, to provide the needed funds to pay teachers’ salaries ($100 per month), as well as other parish needs, such as food and fuel for the Priests. Through Joan’s contacts in HAITI and the very high regard with which she is held by the Bishop, Clergy, and Sisters there, our donations to the HAITI PROJECT are secure and fully accounted for in regular reports.

A note from September, 2022 from Joan Martin in Haiti:

I just read the "Did You Know" (How to live in a Third World Country) in this week's Sunday bulletin. I wanted to say that it is a fairly good description of life in Haiti. I would only add:

1. The "no police force" item is more important than it seems. With no police and with the gangs having more guns than the few police that are still around, there is no security for anyone. People are afraid to travel or even to go to the market.

2. Haiti had rampant inflation, and now the US dollar has again been devalued. So $1 US now gets much less local money in the exchange. The price of food and water has not gone down.

3. It is hard to know who actually devalued the US dollar, because there is no functioning government (Some people might see that as a plus). There is no president since President Jouvenel was assassinated); the prime minister is somewhat self appointed; there have been no elections for 4 years (so no Parliament or Senate).

But we try not to look at the big picture. We do what we can for those parishes or problems that are put right in front of us (or right behind us as the article mentions).

Thanks to you and St. Andrew parish for all you do for Fr. William and the people of St Nicolas in Northwest Haiti.

Joan Martin

St. Paul Street Evangelists are dedicated to taking our Catholic Faith to the streets.  We also pray a public rosary every month, usually on a Saturday morning in front of Chili's. 

We do this in a non-confrontational way, allowing the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of those who witness our public Catholic presence. St. Paul Street Evangelization provides an avenue for you to share the Person of Jesus Christ and the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith with a hungry culture. 

Here is a link for more information on how to be Holy and numerous short videos on sharing the faith: Link 

Contact: Jude Nichoison at 520.508.7301