Sister parishes are very important to the developing parishes in Russia. Right now, a number of American parishes are serving as sister parishes to growing parishes throughout eastern Russia. The relationship benefits both parties. Parishes in Russia get the help they need to get started, to build a small church, or to initiate a charitable program. Meanwhile, the American parishes gain a greater understanding of the Church in Russia, and form a bond with the Catholics there. The information below will familiarize you with this program.

What Does a Sister Parish Do?

First and foremost, members of the sister parish keep the Russian parishioners in their prayers. Russians are always surprised and pleased to learn that others were praying for them during their many years of persecution. They are still heartened to know that these prayers continue.

Beyond that, sister parishes define their own level and type of assistance. A sister parish might decide to have one large fundraiser each year. Or they might choose to hold quarterly raffles. Or the youth group or confirmation class might adopt a Russian parish to assist every year as their annual service project.

Some parishes take a low-key approach and simply “adopt” the entire mission effort. Others choose to support specific programs, rather than parishes. They might include Mission Society donation envelopes in their monthly packets and distribute the Vladivostok Sunrise newsletter at their parish.

How Do We Know What Our Sister Parish Needs?

You can contact the mission office, read newsletters, and learn as much as you can from this website. Some Russian parishes need funds to build a new church, while others may have many single moms who need one-to-one assistance. Some parishes, because of the poverty, need funds just to pay for church supplies and utilities.

How Long Does the Commitment Last?

The commitment lasts as long as your parish wishes. Also, parishes can re-define the relationship at any time. For example, they may choose to discontinue monthly envelopes and begin simply tithing a certain percentage of their income to their sister parish. Or they may choose to switch their support from a particular parish to the pro-life effort.

Please know that the priests in Russia encourage parishioners there to contribute to the support of their own parish. Eventually, those parishes and their associated programs should become self-sustaining. The sister parish relationships should not foster long-term dependency.

Can We Visit Our Parish in Russia?

Yes! In fact mission teams often form with the intention of learning firsthand about their sister parish. Your parish might wish to send a carpentry team to build playground equipment in your sister parish’s village. Or you might send a group to help clean up an old building before it’s renovated for Church use. Or your church might send a team to help with the many charitable activities, to take pictures, to meet and get to know sister parishioners, and to report back to the parish.

How Do We Get Started?

Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to becoming a sister parish:

• Learn as much as you can about the mission society and the tremendous work going on in eastern Russia. There’s plenty of information on this website, including past newsletters, some excellent interviews with the priests, and our mission DVD.
• Check our upcoming events. Perhaps one of the priests or one of our lay volunteers will be speaking in a community near you.
• Meet with your pastor to discuss the possibility of becoming a sister parish. If others are interested, ask them to join you. But don’t “gang up” on the pastor; he has many things to consider before agreeing to the sister parish relationship.
• If one of our priests or lay volunteers will be speaking in your area, invite your pastor to attend. Alternatively, check with the mission office first, then ask your pastor if that speaker could make a one-time presentation to one of the parish groups or to the parish as a whole.
• If your pastor agrees to becoming a sister parish, learn from him:

1. 1. the level of commitment he would like the parish to make (e.g. distribute our bi-monthly newsletters through the parish, conduct regular fundraising, have an annual tithe, host a speaker, or do any combination of these.)
   2. to what degree does he personally wish to be involved (for example does he wish to attend committee meetings or just receive regular reports from those meetings)
   3. whether a sister parish committee needs to be approved by the parish council, or needs to form by-laws, or should perform any other administrative activities first

• Contact the mission office. We can help you with fundraising ideas and with ways to stay in touch with your sister parish.
• Gather a group of people to serve as the sister parish committee and start planning your activities!