In Kyrgyzstan, the Jesuits administrate the Mission, with Fr. Alexander Kahn as Superior. In the former Soviet republic there are only 200 Catholics among the 4.5 million inhabitants. Some are descended from Catholics deported by the Soviet Union, while others are foreign workers. Catholics are very active in Kyrgyz society, with members working in the anti-drug campaign, directing an Internet program, and serving as financial consultant to the president.
Parish life is also very active.
Bishop Jan Pawel Lenga is the Apostolic Administrator. The Kazak population became Muslim in 1301, while before that time they were either pagans, Nestorian Christians, or Zoroastrians. Catholics did not arrive on the scene until the 14th century. A great number of Catholics coming from the Volga, Ukraine, Poland or Baltic territories were exiled to our area, according to a measure which even the Czarist regime did not want to act upon. Because of the political-economic situation, many of the Catholics are now emigrating to Germany, Poland, and the Russian Federation.