Bishop discusses growth, challenges for Catholic Church in Mongolia

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- Bishop Wenceslao Padilla of Ulan Bator, the Mongolian capital, said his greatest joy has been seeing Mongolia's "baby church grow into maturity." "I take delight in observing the church membership and its activities grow and flourish," he said in an e-mail to the Florida Catholic, newspaper of the Orlando Diocese. The bishop, a Missionhurst missionary from the Philippines who has directed Catholic missionary activity in the former Soviet republic since 1992 and was appointed a bishop in 2003, said that despite challenges facing the growing church, he is confident it can survive with the continued support of Catholics worldwide. "To the faithful of Florida, I dare say that you are all co-partners, co-missionaries with us in this newly established mission church," he said. Bishop Padilla said the main challenge he faces is helping those who have embraced the faith and sustaining the church's outreach "in the social, developmental and humanitarian fields." "Looking into the near and distant future, the many and various works that have already been started have to be continued and supported," he said, adding that the Catholic Church is known by its mission projects. "A perennial problem," he said, is having enough local income to sustain such projects.

Source:Catholic News Service