“En Kazajistán surgen constantemente vocaciones al sacerdocio, a la vida religiosa y a la vida laical”
"Vocations to the priesthood, religious life and lay life are constantly emerging in Kazakhstan."
José Luis Mumbiela, Bishop of Almaty, spoke at the School of Theology about the work of the Church in this Asian republic.
José Luis Mumbiela Sierra, Bishop of Almaty (Kazakhstan) visited the School of Theology of the University of Navarra, where he graduated in 1994 and received his doctorate in 1997. During his stay, he spoke about the work of the Catholic Church in this Central Asian republic, where he was sent as a 'fidei donum' priest in 1998. There he has served as assistant pastor of Shimkent, in the Holy Trinity Diocese of Almaty, and as President of the Major seminar of Karaganda.
How is the status of the Church in Kazakhstan today?
I believe that we have never had such a structural development as now; vocations to the priesthood, religious life and lay life are constantly emerging. There are indeed many reasons to be grateful to God. We also encounter difficulties in our work, but I believe that this is a factor to be reckoned with everywhere, even if it presents itself in different ways.
What are the main challenges for the Church's work in this country, where various religious confessions coexist?
In the first place, to take good care of our Catholic communities, in which we must include many Catholics "by nationality" who do not practice their faith due to the aftermath of seventy years of atheism. Along with this, of course, our doors are open to all those who, without being "of Catholic tradition", are attracted by the values of the Gospel. Our task in this sense will be oriented to make this proposal, this possibility close to us. Moreover, something that all of us priests and religious carry deep in our souls is vocation ministry. The best "structure" of the Church in Kazakhstan will be the one made up of native vocations.
Among the population of Kazakhstan there are strong social inequalities, how is the work with the poorest?
On the one hand, "immediate" help: in many parishes there are soup kitchens for the poor, and some specifically for children; medicines are provided, programs of study, etc. Next to our cathedral in Almaty, for example, we have a medical dispensary.
But, of course, this method is insufficient to solve the problems. That is why there is also a broader work, carried out by social centers dependent on the Catholic Church. Specifically, in our diocese there is a center for the promotion of youth and two orphanages, where a total of more than 150 boys and girls live from their early years until they finish their programs of study of training professional or university.
I haven't visited School for several years. What was your impression on your return?
I was able to meet veteran professors and others who are taking their first steps at teaching; I was able to walk through the old and the new areas of the building.... All this speaks to me of the great trust that God has placed in this School. The "external" growth is a sign of the good "internal" path that is discovered, and that is instilled in all those who come here, whether to study, to work, or on a short visit. The path of campus is still narrow... but this other "path" that comes from School has already reached almost every corner of the Earth. It is comforting to see that it is a living road in both directions, because it keeps the contact with its alumni and because you can always come back here as your own home.