Last year, Father Giorgio Marengo, a Consolata Missionary, was ordained as the new Bishop of the Catholic Church in Mongolia. On April 8, 2021, he wrote a letter to us, where he “introduces” the Church entrusted to his care and presents one of its most pressing needs: to have local seminarians.
“Greetings of peace from Mongolia. I’m writing to you to introduce the reality of this nascent Church. Few essential data may be sufficient: 1,300 baptized local Catholics and 23 priests (out of whom only one is a native Mongolian); 8 missions in an area of 600,000 square miles, with only 3.3 million inhabitants, and… one poor Italian bishop, aged 46, consecrated in August 2020. Actually I feel highly privileged to serve the Church in this fascinating reality, which resembles the Acts of the Apostles and whom I learned to know and love in the 18 years of missionary service already spent in this land. […]
The Bishop to be, at the far right, celebrates Mass at Arkaheir parochial church
“The Catholic Church in Mongolia is a “little flock”. The need for local clergy is of the essence. At the moment we have no candidates for the priesthood, however, we would like to prepare ourselves to welcome the young people whom the Holy Spirit may call. Pope Francis, during the private audience he graciously granted me after my episcopal consecration last year, highlighted the need to have the candidates to the priesthood formed in close collaboration with me; when I told him that we don’t have yet a seminary, he told me: “You personally form your priests!”, quoting the example of the Fathers of the early Church, who didn’t have proper structures, yet they were directly involved in the training of the future ministers.
Bishop Giorgio Marengo is received by Pope Francis
“That is why, when I came back to Mongolia, I started envisioning a context in which those who feel called to the priesthood might spend at least their initial discernment in the headquarters of the Apostolic Prefecture. Through a restructuring plan, I expect to obtain a sufficient number of rooms to accommodate future candidates for the priesthood and thus be able to accompany them at least in the initial stages of their formation. This is the reason why I turn to you, asking you if you could kindly consider supporting this renovation project. […]
“Respectfully yours in Christ,
+ Giorgio Marengo, IMC
Bishop, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar”
The Bishop with the Arkaheir parochial community and some visitors from New Jersey. At the back, the parish church
While the estimated cost of the renovation is about forty thousand US dollars, we promised Bishop Marengo that we will contribute with ten. Please, give him a hand. Through this project, you will help a young Church, on the other side of the world, to stand on its feet.
On behalf of our missionaries in Mongolia, we thank you in advance for your most generous support.