St. Elizabeth Convent Belarus:

Published on November 23, 2021

St. Elizabeth Convent is situated in Minsk in the country of Belarus – next door to Russia, and featuring in the news these days.. The Russian Orthodox community there looks after two hundred children in an orphanage, and has a centre for people who have fallen on hard times.

Next weekend the Sisters will visit Thomastown and will invite you to buy the icons, ceramics and decorations produced in their workshops. This will support the ongoing work of care for the

least fortunate.

Reflection

Following one’s vocation is a response from within to the needs outside us. A vocation meets the human needs of the world but with a motivation from within. We care for our children and grandchildren not just because they are sick or insecure, but because we love them. this love will move us out to help them in various situations. We find a call to be ‘people for others’ because our heart teaches us that with Jesus we are all brothers and sisters, and that God wants to save the world, and needs our help to do so. This is the Sunday we all pray that our particular vocation in life may become clear and may become stronger. God calls each of us to love God and love our neighbour. This is the first Christian calling at our Baptism; we then find the best way for each of us with our own particular set of gifts, talents and even weaknesses to live out that call to love. We think especially today of religious life and priesthood. There are needs for priests, sisters and brothers in most parts of the world. as a community in families and parishes we thank those who have given their lives in these vocations and pray they may increase.