A Russian Orthodox community in Minsk, Belarus was founded in 1999 in the outskirts of Minsk. The sisters of the convent provide spiritual and social help to the sick and the suffering. The convent looks after 200 orphanage children with psychophysical deficiencies. There is a charity shelter founded on the farmstead of the Convent located 19 mi from Minsk for people who were led astray by the rough and tumble of life (the homeless, drug or alcohol addicts, ex-prisoners and the less able). A rehabilitation facility for females was established two years ago for female exprisoners, the homeless and the mentally challenged women. To support and develop the above ministries, more than twenty workshops and studios operate. These include sewing and embroidery shops, candle workshop, woodcarving, stone and blacksmith workshops and many more. Some of the people working in the workshops are those who lost all hope in realizing their potential due to various illnesses. Together with the sisters these people produce beautiful articles with love and prayer in the convent’s workshops.  Some Sisters will come Thomastown for the 10am Mass on Monday 24th February and will make their lovely work available to all afterwards. An ideal opportunity to get some good religious art, whether for your home or as a gift for someone else. Check their website.