May 16, 2008
by Jennifer Brinker, St. Louis Review Staff Writer
Life is not easy for Valentina who lives
in a crumbling apartment building in the small village of Ola in far-
eastern Siberia.
A constant sight for the single mother of two boys, including one newborn,
is a large hole that prominently sits in the building’s first flight of
stairs. From her apartment one can look down the main hallway and
see outside of the building because the surrounding walls have fallen
apart. Trash and cold air blow in exposing residents to the harsh Siberian winter even before they leave the
building.
But life for Valentina and her boys is about to change for the better
thanks to the efforts of a Catholic parish in Magadan, Russia.
The Church of the Nativity of Jesus in Magadan launched Nativity Inn last
summer, an initiative to help women who face crisis pregnancies.
Behind the effort is Father David Means, the parish’s associate pastor
and a St. Louis native. The priest is on a temporary assignment at
Sakhalin Island off the coast of mainland Russia.
Magadan is about a 10-hour flight from Moscow. It also is the closest
major city to Ola where Valentina lives — about 45 minutes away. The
Church of the Nativity has a membership of about 200, a far cry from
Magadan’s 100,000 residents. Russian Orthodox is the major
religion there.
Last month the parish secured an apartment in Ola which will be used to
house expectant and new mothers according to Connie Hood, a St. Louis
attorney who is spearheading local efforts to support the program in
Magadan. Valentina and her sons will be the apartment’s first
residents.
"The apartment in Ola will be available for two women and their
babies — maybe a third," said Hood, a member of Ascension Parish in
Chesterfield. "The apartment has one bedroom and a large room. Then
there is a small kitchen and bathroom."
While several families will be living there, Hood said it "is in
better shape than some of the places people live in." It will cost
about $4,000 to renovate the apartment, and the work is expected to be
completed some time this month.
The apartment also sits next door to another residence that the church
uses to offer Mass and other services to the people of Ola. It is one of
two missionary outreach efforts the church has outside of Magadan. The
other is in Sokol about an hour away.
"Ola was close enough that [the priests] could get to a couple of
times a week," said Hood. "It’s very rare for these people to
make a trip to Magadan."
Since its inception last year, Nativity Inn has served dozens of women and
their children with resources such as food, clothing, baby supplies,
medicine, help with utility bills, job placement, schooling and other
financial support. The parish also has a full-time employee, Luda,
dedicated to helping with the intake.
The majority of women who attend the Church of the Nativity are widows or
single parents. Cases of alcoholism and unemployment are significant
in Russia.
"There’s a huge percent of babies born alive that die before their
first birthday," noted Hood. "I’m convinced they don’t have
the medical expertise or equipment to save them. In Magadan we know
of babies who are born and didn’t survive. It’s just
tragic."
The church is currently helping four women in Magadan — two of whom have
given birth and two who are still expecting.
Father Michael Shields, pastor of the Church of the Nativity, said they
are part of a minority tribe of Indians called Eveni. The church also is
providing assistance to two mothers in Ola; Valentina and another young
woman who lost a set of twins because of her poor health and prenatal
care.
Hood traveled to Magadan last November where she spent 18 days learning
more about the program and way of life there. She met several people
helped by the church and visited a women’s clinic, hospital, and
orphanage. It was her first visit to Russia.
"They have a very hard existence there," she said. "It’s
a beautiful country with the seas and forest — it’s absolutely
stunning."
Many of the people living in smaller towns such as Ola are survivors and
their descendants of the former Soviet concentration camps. Hood
said the area was "like a deserted town — depressing, gray, and not
good employment," said Hood. "I didn’t see much industry
there."
Efforts are needed to promote Nativity Inn to the people in Magadan and
surrounding areas said Hood. The church has advertised with fliers and
brochures in places such as doctors’ offices and clinics.
The church also hopes to open a counseling center to educate women and
provide ultrasounds.
Father Shields also would like to offer classes on issues such as sexually
transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy and chastity.
While the program has been well received so far said Hood, the church also
has been using caution to make sure it isn’t seen as a proselytizing
effort.
"Anything not Russian Orthodox is considered sectlike,"
explained Hood. "Russia is not very hospitable to non-orthodox
groups. We can’t be seen actively campaigning to convert — and
that’s not what we’re about."
Hood expressed her gratitude for the support of the Catholic community in
St. Louis.
"We started sending out newsletters every other month, and we get
some money in from those — it’s so nice. Even a $5 check is
nice. The people are engaged, and sometimes we even get $1,000
checks."
While prayers are the most significant need Hood said, the program
continues to seek material needs as well. Items currently being sought
include children’s vitamins, heavy coats and snowsuits for infants and
toddlers, maternity clothing, hats, gloves, socks and non-prescription
eyeglasses.
For more information on Nativity Inn, please call Connie Hood at (314)
863-0500 or visit www.nativityinn.org
Reprinted with permission from the St. Louis
Review diocesan newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis
Want to perform a Good Work?
Please send a package valued at
under $100 from the following Wish List. Values over $100 require Father
Means to pay customs duty.
Father David Means
Church of the Nativity
Galvpochtant, Box 171
685000 Magadan
RUSSIA
Babies:
Snowsuits, socks, baby blankets, vitamins.
Mothers: Maternity clothes
and feminine products.
Children: Socks,
coats, hats, gloves, vitamins, children's tylenol, children's
aspirin, school and art supplies.
Teens: Backpacks.
Adults: Pain
relievers, arthritis pain relievers, winter boots, gloves,
hats, socks.
Toys and reading eyeglasses
What's Allowed, What's Not in Russia
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope - You may
include a letter - insured up to $100 - maximum 4 pounds - customs form -
$12.95
Priorty Mail Small Flat Rate Box - You may
include a letter - insured up to $100 - maximum 4 pounds - customs form -
$12.95
Priority Mail Regular Flat Rate Box - You
may not include a letter - insured up to $100 - maximum 20 pounds -
customs form - $41.95
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box - You may
not include a letter - insured up to $100 - maximum 20 pounds - $53.95
Tip:
Priority Flat Rate envelope, Priority Flat Rate small
box, Priority Flat Rate regular box, Priority Flat Rate large box
may save on postage from the U. S. Ask the post office to weigh
Priority non-flat-rate envelope/box to see which costs less.
Priority envelopes and boxes are free at the post office. The same
Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are used for both domestic and
international mail.
Tip: Above rates are reduced a couple
of dollars if you print stamps online.
