She then continued to explain that, although she was not very knowledgeable of the faith, she believed that Jesus becoming a person changed everything. If it doesn't, then I don't really believe. We celebrated a memorial mass for Baba Maria's parents at the same time, and she received her first communion. She has not missed a mass or event at the church since the day she first came through the door, nor has she ceased thanking God for making the impossible possible. I recount Baba Maria's wonderful story here because she is representative of the foundation, or re-foundation, of Roman Catholicism in the former Soviet Union.
Catholics find their way to church.
In doing so, they are coming home. Catholics make up a very small percent of the general population, but there are at least a few Catholics in most villages and cities throughout Siberia. Many have still not seen a priest. We hear stories from our people of Catholics who still find it difficult to believe that there are churches in towns near to them. Other Catholics still fear admitting before their neighbors that they are Catholics.