As we all get used to the Liturgy this Advent, the following ‘snippet’ (from Catholic Compass) provides an insight into the Catholic Church in the former Soviet Union.
In the interests of fairness, I suppose I should add that there are other publishers of the New Roman Missal!!
The only Catholic Church that stayed open in Russia throughout the Soviet period is now using the New Roman Missal published by the CTS.
St Louis des Francais Catholic Church was founded as a church for foreigners. Catherine the Great granted permission in 1786 for the construction of a church to serve French subjects living in Moscow. The church was consecrated in 1835.
The priests are members of the Assumptionists’ order. There are masses in various languages each Sunday including an English-language service at 9.30am celebrated by the Parish Priest Fr Adrien Masson and/or Fr Paul Chemparathy of the local Jesuit college (both pictured).
English-language services are attended by people from all over the world and many walks of life, including ambassadors, students, foreigners working in Moscow and tourists. As well as native English speakers from countries including the UK, Ireland, Australia, and the US, the congregation includes many who don’t have the opportunity to attend masses in Moscow celebrated in their native tongue.
Thanks to Maureen O’Donoghue for the text of this post.
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
St. Louis is not the only church in Russia that was never closed during the Communist rule – there is another, in St. Petersburg, I think it’s the Our Lady of Lourdes.
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All these churches open during Stalin’s time! This rosy new image of the Reds must stop. Now!
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