By Sr Elena Isachenko, SMCB
The Sisters of St Dominic began their ministry in Buryatia in 2000.
“At the beginning of our mission,” recalls Sr Bernadetta Gratkowska, OP, “we were such an unusual sight for the locals that people would run out of shops just to look at the nuns walking down the street.”
It is Cold Here, and Not Just Outside
The first steps of the new mission were not easy. The sisters, who had arrived from Poland, had to get used to the harsh Siberian climate and to the fact that it can be cold here not only on the street.
“I remember my first winter in Siberia very well,” says Sr Bernadetta. “All through January, the frost was down to -45°C. The city heating system broke down. In the apartment, it was between -12°C and +4°C; we had to walk around in our jackets.”
The Catholic community in Ulan-Ude – the capital of Buryatia – shared the fate of many other Catholics in the former USSR. The parish church, built in 1907, was destroyed during Soviet repression. For many years, believers were deprived of the opportunity to openly profess their faith.
In 2003, the authorities of the republic granted a plot of land for the construction of a Catholic church, which was completed just two years later. Since then, the cross over the church has once again become a sign of Christian presence in this place.
“Khadak” – A Buryat Tradition in the Christian Community
The proclamation of Christ in a multi-ethnic region with ancient Buddhist and Shamanic roots took on the character of a dialogue from the very beginning. Initial curiosity gave way to the discovery of shared values.
The Christian commandments of love for one’s neighbor echo the Buddhist principle of non-violence. Traditional Buryat culture treats family and the elderly with deep respect. In an atmosphere of peaceful dialogue, different confessions enrich each other, striving toward a common goal: caring for human dignity.
Over time, certain Buryat traditions have become firmly rooted in the life of Catholic communities. One of these is the “khadak.” This is a special greeting showing profound respect, during which a silk scarf and koumiss (fermented mare’s milk) are presented with a bow.
This is exactly how guests are welcomed in the Catholic parish of Ulan-Ude and in the monastic community of the Dominican Sisters.
Ministry as an Invitation to Dialogue
From the very beginning of the mission, the sisters’ ministry became an invitation to dialogue about Gospel values. Helping those in need caused bewilderment, especially among non-religious people.
They would ask: “Why do you help people you don’t even know?” The sisters replied that they saw the Face of Christ in the destitute. This answer sparked new questions. That was how conversations about faith, human dignity, and the Gospel would begin.
From the start, the sisters’ mission has been centered around helping children from poor and underprivileged families. “They were looking to us not just for a piece of bread,” says Sr Bernadetta, “but, above all, for a warm welcome and a sense of security. We organized various workshops so that the children could develop their talents, and we helped them with their studies.”
To this day, the nuns care for children and youth, preparing them for the sacraments. A special ministry has also become the care of the sick and their spiritual accompaniment in the palliative care unit of the city hospital.
The Buryat Chapter of the Third Order of St Dominic
Over time, the intercultural dialogue reached a deeper level. Parishioners felt a desire to share the charism of St Dominic and make it a part of their daily lives. This gave rise to the Third Order of St Dominic in Buryatia.
The very first candidates were Buryats; later, a young woman from Mongolia joined them, followed by Russian men and women. In their lives, they strive to embody the Dominican ideal: contemplation that leads to witnessing to Christ.
Buryatia — A Mosaic Where Every Piece Matters
Buryatia is a grand and beautiful mosaic of cultures and peoples created by God. The Catholic community in this land is just one fragment of this magnificent pattern.
“My missionary life,” says Sr Bernadetta, “has taught me that every single person matters. People often do not know how to take the first step toward faith. That is why it is so important to give them your attention. In Buryat culture, dedicating time to someone is a sign of respect. I think this is the very witness that our small Catholic community could share with the Universal Church: every person matters.” – Vatican News
