Dushanbe (AsiaNews) Tajikistan's Catholic Church launched its own internet site on the feast day of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, patron saint of missions, which is also the seventh anniversary of the Sui Iuris mission to this Central Asian country. Clicking on www.catholic.tj (in Russian and Spanish) one can find information about Tajikistan, its history, culture and spiritual traditions.
Special focus is given to the Catholic Church's pastoral and missionary activities. "This is the result of the work and enthusiasm of our community's youth," said Sergei Kviatkovsky, communication director of the Sui Iuris mission. "We want this initiative to be an effective way to announce the Gospels and be their witness," he added. "And we also want it to be the proof of the Catholic Church's presence in this country."
Tajikistan has a population of 6.3 million people, 85 per cent Muslim. Christians represent 2 per cent of the total. Catholics are 2,000.
John Paul II set up the Missio Sui Iuris in 1997. Today the Catholic Church is present in the country with three parishes managed by five priests from the Spanish Institute of the Divine Word. Four missioners of Charity are also present.
