in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia:
Report by Bishop Wens Padilla, cicm
Numerical Update
In this year of the ox (the animal zodiac I belong to) we have been blest again with a plentiful harvest of 117 newly baptised: 104 Mongolians and 13 Koreans who had successfully finished a 2-year catechism course in our parishes. Many of these new Catholics have also received Confirmation. Later this year, we hope, another 20 catechumens will also be baptised. With the recently baptised, it brings the number of those converted to the Catholic faith to 638 Mongolian brothers and sisters. A slow but steady growth.
The number of missionaries has also increased to 80 strong, including 8 lay missionaries from foreign countries. Thus we now come from 25 countries, from 12 Religious Congregations and from the secular clergy. The latest addition to the missionary team are the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Charity, from Korea.
The Holy Father appointed a new Apostolic Nuncio for Korea and Mongolia, in the person of His Excellency Most Rev. Osvaldo Padilla. He comes from Cebu City, Philippines but, although his family name is the same as mine, we are not related.
Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
Up to now, the lighting in the worship hall of our ger-shaped cathedral had come from unsightly 'stadium spot lights' mounted on the walls. These have been replaced by warm, hanging lamps. Also, by August this year we hope to install the glass roofing of the topmost dome of the Church, which is now under construction in Korea. This addition will come with a large outside cross, in order for the cathedral not to be mistaken for a mosque. We had not done this from the start because we did not want to be too assertive or provoke hostile reactions. By now, the positive work and influence of the Catholic Church are better understood and accepted.
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One of my big dreams is to establish a Catholic School in Mongolia. Some 5 years ago already we obtained from the government a 3-hectare piece of land. It is now fenced in to keep out squatters or roaming animals and wolves. We dug a deep well and installed electrical connection with transformers. Soon we will have to start constructing a first building - an elementary school - so as not to lose the land title, because Mongolian law stipulates that within 3 years after the permission has been given, project implementation has to start.
A Catholic school is deemed necessary and beneficial to evangelization work in order to help poor and deserving students have a good education, to change mentalities, to preserve the culture, to avoid brain drain, and to have a seedbed for clerical and religious vocations.
Just recently, on my visits to Rome, Germany, and Korea, I sought approval and support for the project. I have solicited and received the blessing of the higher-ups in the Vatican to proceed with the school construction. Of course, we will need more than just blessings and encouragement. Hopefully they can help in one way or another in the implementation of the project and especially with the much needed funds.
Many Other Missionary Activities and Projects
The planned Catholic school is just one (though a very major) project in which I am directly involved myself. Each of our missionary groups has its own area of concern and responsibility, be it a parish, kindergarten, small neighborhood clinic, center for street children, sewing classes for girls and women, language classes, an agricultural cooperative, or Christian outreach to the poor and marginalized, like drug addicts, battered women, alcoholics, prisoners, elderly homeless. In so many ways, they all live and preach that "where charity and love prevail, there is God."
Funds for the sustenance and support of our missionaries and their works primarily come from outside help/donations. Up to now, we don't have any local income except for the meager collection in our churches during Sunday liturgies.
We owe sincere gratitude, during this period of economic crisis, to the generosity of our friends and partners of the mission, especially from you, our good friends and benefactors from Singapore. Through your generosity, you are truly our co-missionaries in Mongolia. We can only offer our fervent prayers for all of you and your intentions.
Erdenet Kindergarten, Mongolia: A New Home
for our Children 
Father Emmanuel reports
"My Home Kindergarten" was originally built as a wooden structure. Later it was given a brick outer shell to improve the insulation. But after 6 years of use, the building has badly deteriorated. The classrooms and kitchen are under the same roof, with the class-rooms serving also as dining rooms. Subsequent inspections from government Health and Safety officials have resulted in the advice that the kitchen and dining facilities should be separated from the classrooms. 
From an educational standpoint this is also preferable to provide a better learning environment for our young children. It is anticipated that enforcement of the "advice" will follow, as we have received a very strong warning from the government after the library fire end December 2007.
A new building, of course, costs money, lots of it, aside from the necessary planning and building permits. The good news is that Jersey Overseas Aid has adopted our project and sent a team of 8 volunteers for a period of 4 weeks (May-June) to build the new structure.
More information can be found on the Net (Google under Jersey Overseas Aid)
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: A Truly Blessed Week for
Good Shepherd Parish (GSP)
(Fr Ronald Magbanua writes)
Holy Week started with a faith-filled Palm Sunday celebration. The newly-built church of Good Shepherd was overflowing with believers eager to start their Holy Week by welcoming Jesus in their hearts. I had invited and prepared our parishioners to enter into the mystery of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of the Lord.
Live Stations of the CrossFor the first time in the Prefecture of Mongolia, GSP introduced Live Stations of the Cross. The texts were spoken in both Mongolian and English language. The presentation was so touching that, while the scenes were reenacted, many people were crying. The performance of the actors and actresses was highly appreciated by all.
Easter Vigil
The Easter Vigil was a rewarding parish event. On this night our small parish had 6 adult baptisms and also the baptism of a whole family. The candidates were excited, after two years of catechism classes, to be fully accepted into the church community and receive Christ in their hearts. In my homily, I emphasized the role of prayer for the whole family, quoting the famous slogan: "The family that prays together stays together." This year's Easter Vigil was a great blessing for our parish as it also encouraged other families to accept Christ as a family. After the Easter Vigil, several families approached me and requested to be enrolled in the catechism class. Let us all hope and pray that they will persevere in their good intention.
Easter Sunday, too, was full of joy and surprises. The Eucharistic celebrations in the three churches in Ulaanbaatar and in Darkhan City were packed with believers. Our bishop had decided to celebrate Easter Sunday Mass at Good Shepherd Parish. Therefore, I scheduled the Confirmation Rite for this day. Four people were confirmed. It was the first time that the bishop was at Good Shepherd for Easter Sunday. We had also the baptism of the child of a Filipino working in Mongolia. In line with Filipino custom, there were many godparents or sponsors (12 in all); one of them was the French Ambassador.
It was truly a great blessing. After Mass, the parish prepared a copious meal for everyone. An Easter egg hunt entertained the children, while indoor games got the attention of the older ones. It was like a family day for the parishioners of Good Shepherd Parish. Everybody went home bringing with them the blessing that was imparted to them by Bishop Wens Padilla, cicm.
Grateful for the Past, Looking toward the FutureWithout the help of our dedicated and committed friends and benefactors in Singapore, we would not have been able to finish the simple, multi-purpose church building which is now the joy and pride of GSP. For this I praise and thank the Lord, even though we are still some U$25,000 in the red. We are confident we can keep counting on our friends.
Not surprisingly, this is not the end of our plans or worries. What we now need to do, without delay, is to construct a friendly yet effective fence to prevent our church compound from becoming a public loitering place or a dumping ground. It is something we must complete within the next 3 months. GSP parishioners understand this need, so I have called on their sacrifice and initiative to raise the necessary funds. But in these difficult times, and with salaries (of those who are blessed with a job) of only some US$100 a month, even that will not be possible without help from caring friends abroad.