Roman Catholicism in Mongolia 4513394 216460967 2008-06-01T19:36:29Z DumZiBoT 6085301 robot Modifying: [[es:Iglesia católica en Mongolia]] [[Image:Mongolian Catholic Cathedral Construction.png|thumb|right|300px|First Roman Catholic Cathedral being built]] The '''Roman Catholic Church in Mongolia''' is part of the worldwide [[Roman Catholic Church]], under the spiritual leadership of the [[Pope]] and [[curia (Roman Catholic Church)|curia]] in [[Rome]]. There are only about 415 Roman Catholics in the country who are served by three churches in the capital [[Ulaanbaatar]]. Roman Catholicism was first introduced in the 13th century during Mongol empire, but died out with the demise of the [[Yuan Dynasty]] in 1368. New missionary activity only set in after the [[Opium war]] of the mid-19th century. A mission was founded for Outer Mongolia, giving Mongolia its first Roman Catholic jurisdiction, but all work ceased within a year when a [[communist]] regime came to power. With the introduction of democracy in 1991, Roman Catholic missionaries returned and rebuilt the church from scratch. As of 2006, there is an [[Apostolic Prefecture]], a bishop, three churches, and diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Mongolia since 1992. [[Pope John Paul II]] planned to visit Mongolia, and it is hoped that [[Pope Benedict XVI]] will become the first Pope to visit. ==History== The Roman Catholic Church in Mongolia has ancient roots in Mongolia, most of them coming through China. Missionaries such as [[William Rubruck]] and [[Giovanni da Pian del Carpine]] came to this region between the 13th and 14th centuries because of the [[Mongol]]s' religious tolerance. It is likely that the [[New Testament]] and the [[Psalms]] were translated by [[Giovanni da Montecorvino]], who founded the first Roman Catholic mission in [[Beijing]] and became its first bishop.<ref name="form">{{cite web | author=| year=February 5th, 2004| title=First parish assembly held on missions| format= | work=AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=337| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> Technically Mongolia had been covered by the diocese of Peking, and it was not until 1840, when a [[Vicariate Apostolic]] was divided from Beijing that Mongolia had its own Catholic jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web | author=Cordier, Henri | year=1911| title=Mongolia | format= | work=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] Vol. X | url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10479b.htm| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> In 1883, a vicariate for [[Inner Mongolia]] was created, and then a mission was created for [[Outer Mongolia]] in 1922.<ref>{{cite web | author=Tande, Claes| year=July 15th, 2002| title=Mongolia:Chronology of Catholic Diocese| format= | work=katolsk.no | url=http://www.katolsk.no/utenriks/kronologi/mongolia.htm| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> see also [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dulaa.html Catholic Hierarchy] Freedom of thought and religion were not permitted under [[communist]] rule.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=Novembe 29th, 2004| title=My art is at the service of God, convert says published | format= | work=AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=2000| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> [[Image:Undergroundcathm.JPG|left|300px|thumb|Priest ministering to the homeless underground]] ===Mission sui iuris (1991-2003)=== The new [[Politics of Mongolia|Mongolian Constitution]] of 1992 guaranteed religious liberty, and missionaries were sent to reconstitute the church. Missionhurst (the [[Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary]]) sent priests Fathers Wenceslao Padilla, Gilbert Sales and Robert Goessens to accomplish this mission once the Vatican had established diplomatic relations with Mongolia. Previous to their arrival, expatriates had been attending Protestant services. Initially, none of the missionaries knew [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]], none of the native peoples knew English, and there were no [[Christian liturgy|Catholic liturgical texts]] printed in Mongolian.<ref name="mission">{{cite web | author=| year=| title= Catholic Church Mission | format=| work=Missionhurst.org| url=http://www.missionhurst.org/serve/mongolia.shtml| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> By 1996, Father Wince Padilla and 150 parishioners were on hand at the dedication of the first Catholic Church in Mongolian history.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=May 27th, 1996 | title= First Catholic Church Opens In Mongolia | format=| work=[[Catholic World News]]| url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=568| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> In 1997 the first [[papal nuncio]] to Mongolia from the [[Holy See|Vatican]] was named.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=June 17th, 2004| title=Mongolia Gets New Papal Nuncio | format=| work=[[Zenit News Agency]]| url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Mongolia/NewsArchive.htm| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> The new Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in [[Ulaanbaatar]] is shaped like a traditional [[ger]], with its circular tent shape and walls of thick felt.<ref>{{cite web | author= O’Brien, Ellen | year= | title=The Catholic Church in Mongolia: Small, desperately poor, but they love God - and Smarty Jones | format= | work= [[The Catholic Standard and Times]] | url= http://www.cst-phl.com/050428/youth.html| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> ===Prefecture Apostolic (2003-Present)=== [[Image:Mongoliacath.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Clergy from different congregations working in Mongolia]] On [[August 23]], [[2003]], Cardinal [[Crescenzio Sepe]] (head of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) arrived and consecrated Father Padilla as the first [[bishop]] of Mongolia, although the country is not yet a [[diocese]]. [[Pope John Paul II]] apologized for being unable to attend the opening himself, as he had been planning to visit Mongolia, a first for a Pope.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=August 29th, 2003| title=Pope sends regrets for not visiting Mongolia| format= | work=[[Catholic World News]] | url=http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=24402| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> He had originally been invited by the President of Mongolia during his visit to the Vatican in 2000.<ref>{{cite web | author=Simpson, Victor L.| year=July 8th, 2003| title=VATICAN CITY:Pope trip to Mongolia dropped| format= | work=[[Associated Press]] | url=http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1057664481&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> There are now 54 missionaries from various countries helping to build up the church, and 3 functioning parishes. A Mongolian version of the Catholic [[Bible]] was printed mid-2004; it is done in traditional Mongolian writing style and includes [[List of prayers#Roman Catholic prayers|common Catholic prayers]].<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=April 6th, 2004| title=First modern Mongolian editions of Catholic catechism and prayer book published | format= | work=AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=590 | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> There is also demand for a Roman Catholic calendar in Mongolian to be created.<ref name="form">{{cite web | author=| year=February 5th, 2004| title=First parish assembly held on missions| format= | work=AsiaNews.it | url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=337| accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> The flocking of Christian missionaries has been notable since the fall of communism,<ref>{{cite web | author=Dalziel, Elizabeth | year=September 25th, 2005| title=Christian missionaries flocking to newly open Mongolia| format= | work=The Associated Press| url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=1,1752,0,0,1,0 | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> and the growth for Catholicism in particular is explosive, from no believers in 1991 to over 300, 216 of which are native Mongolians.<ref>{{cite web | author=Padilla, Wens S. | year=October, 2004| title=Apostolic Prefecture of the Catholic Church Mission in Mongolia| format= | work=Missionhurst.org| url=http://www.missionhurst.org/CCM/CCMi.php | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> The mission runs a [[kindergarten]], English classes, a technical school, [[soup kitchen]]s, two farms, and a care center for 120 disabled children.<ref>{{cite web | author=Jewell, Jim | year=January 18th, 2005| title=Children Huddled in Crevices| format= | work=[[Christianity Today]]| url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/001/36.54.html | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> Another course offered is how to deal with [[anger management]], in order to help stem [[domestic violence|violence against women]].<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=July 29th, 2004| title=Containing violence by learning to talk within the family| format= | work=Asia News.it| url=http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=1216 | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> The [[CICM|Verbist]] Center has also taken in 120 street children who had previously been living in Ulaanbaatar's sewer system.<ref>{{cite web | author=Balsamo, William M. | year=2000| title=Verbist Care Center in Mongolia Helps Street Children in Ulan Bator| format= | work=[[Christianity Today]]| url=http://www.geocities.com/yamataro670/verbistcarecenter.htm | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> Christmas is not a national holiday in Mongolia, as the proportion of the population that is Christian is very low.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=December 18th, 2003| title= No holiday, but Mongolia's Catholics prepare for Christmas celebration| format= | work=Fides| url=http://www.sspxasia.com/Countries/Mongolia/NewsArchive.htm | accessdate=2006-06-12}}</ref> A fourth parish was founded in 2007 in [[Darhan]], Mongolia's second-largest city.<ref>{{cite web | author=| year=February 5th, 2008| title= Catholic Church celebrates 15 years in Mongolia; sets plans for future| format= | work=Mongolia Web News| url=http://www.mongolia-web.com/content/view/1611/2/ | accessdate=2008-03-03}}</ref> ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> {{Asia in topic|Roman Catholicism in}} [[Category:Christianity in Mongolia]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Church in Asia|Mongolia]] [[Category:Roman Catholic Church by country|Mongolia]] [[de:Römisch-katholische Kirche in der Mongolei]] [[es:Iglesia católica en Mongolia]] [[it:Chiesa cattolica in Mongolia]] [[zh:蒙古天主教]]