Warm hospitality in cold Kazakhstan

General Councilor Sister M. Teresa Wawrowicz, a member of the Polish Province, spent Christmas and New Year‘s Eve with Sister M. Weronika Jerzewska in Kamyschenka. A report from the Polish mission of our Congregation in Kazakhstan.

The mission in Kazakhstan was opened in 2009 and began its work in Shchuchinsk. For a time, four of our Sisters worked there: Sr. M. Benita, Sr. M. Weronika, Sr. M. Rufina, and Sr. M. Arturis. Their presence was a true gift for the people of Kazakhstan. With great commitment and kindness, they shared the daily lives of the people and brought them help and the witness of faith. Their service was marked by many hardships, sacrifices, and challenges, which they accepted with love and fidelity to their vocation. We are deeply grateful for this.

In 2017, the Polish Province established a second mission in Kamyschenka; the mission in Shchuchinsk was closed in 2020. Sr. M. Arturis was the first to return to Poland, followed by Sr. M. Rufina. Unfortunately, Sr. M. Benita also had to return to Poland due to illness. Only Sr. M. Weronika remained in Kazakhstan and remains faithful to the mission entrusted to her to this day.

So that she would not be completely alone, the Sisters of the Polish Province took care of her and sent concrete support. Some of them agreed to visit her and spend some time with her, sharing her daily life and strengthening her through their presence. The Sisters of the Generalate also accompany Sr. M. Weronika continuously through their closeness, their interest, and their responsible care for the mission. It is our task to be there for our Sisters; therefore, Sr. M. Margarete asked me if I was willing to go to Kazakhstan.

There could hardly have been a better time to travel there and spend time together than the Christmas season. So, on December 15, 2025, I set off for Kazakhstan via Warsaw and arrived in Astana on the morning of December 16. Sr. M. Weronika and Father Tomasz were already waiting for me at the airport. Not only were their hugs warm, but they had also brought a thermos of hot coffee and delicious sandwiches. At that point, I didn‘t know how difficult the weather conditions were due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, and that many roads were already closed. We still had about two hours to drive to our destination. This was my first experience of the roads in Kazakhstan. At first, the visibility was comparable to flying through clouds. I thought it couldn‘t get any worse. But in the end, the drive took us over a frozen riverbed, through the steppe, and over packed snow full of ruts and snow drifts. I felt a bit like I was in an off-road rally.

When we arrived at the convent, we celebrated Holy Mass. Afterwards, Sr. M. Weronika invited us to lunch. The following days became increasingly intense. Preparations for Christmas were in full swing: the church was decorated, altar cloths for all the chapels were ironed, the nativity play was rehearsed with the children, and the convent was prepared. We also visited all the sick people. This took a lot of time, as the parish includes six villages that are many kilometers apart. We visit these places regularly because the people long to participate in the Eucharist.

The people here are very devout and truly remarkable. Their hospitality, openness, and generosity touched me deeply. Some brought homemade provisions or pastries, and one woman even gave us a roast duck. In addition, the people who live here are characterized by their extraordinary resilience in the face of the hardships of life. Living conditions are very difficult. The extreme temperatures alone are a major challenge: in winter there is severe frost, and in summer it can get incredibly hot. People have learned to endure these conditions, and I saw farmers working in the fields at -25°C.

Missionary work here also requires extraordinary perseverance. I am full of admiration for the ministry of Father Tomasz and Sister M. Weronika, who often need the whole day to reach people living in remote areas and enable them to encounter Christ in the Eucharist. For me personally, the time spent here is a wonderful gift. It allows me to look intensively at the meaning of our charism, to bring the healing presence of Christ to people. I have paused here for a moment to look, listen, reflect, and delve deeper into the mystery of our Franciscan way of life.

By Schwester M. Teresa