Mission of the Russian General Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Kazakistan
The first Franciscan friars came to evangelize the local population in Kazakhstan in the 13th and 14th centuries. Their missionary activity ended suddenly in 1342, when Khan Ali destroyed the Franciscan friary in the city of Almalik and sentenced Franciscan Bishop Richard DE BURGANDY, his five Franciscan confreres and a Latin merchant to death for refusing to renounce the Christian faith.
During the difficult years of communism, Friar Odoryk BIEŃ, through great courage and sacrifice, served Christians who had been deported by the Soviets and abandoned in the frozen lands of Kazakhstan. After the fall of communism, Friar Odoryk was joined by Friar Krzysztof KUKUŁKA. They have been doing pastoral work together since 1991.
In September of 2003, a Delegation composed of the Minister General, Friar Joachim GIERMEK, his predecessor, Friar Lanfranco SERRINI, and two other friars, participated in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions at the invitation of its President, Nursułtan NAZARBAJEW. In 2005, the Most Reverend Tomasz PETA, Archbishop of Astana, Kazakhstan, officially invited the Order to his diocese. The Order responded to the appeal with enthusiasm and generosity and asked to make “the Spirit of Assisi” present in this immense Central Asian country, along with dialogue, peace and reconciliation―characteristic signs of the Franciscan charism.
The mission currently has three solemnly professed friars and one friary.
Astana: The Bl. Michał Tomaszek and Zbigniew Strzałkowski Friary – The Mother of All Nations Parish Church
In 2008, the Order opened this community “in the spirit of Assisi.” Soon the friars were entrusted with a small parish in the poorest part of the city. The community became a part of the Russian General Custody of St. Francis of Assisi during the its 2019 Extraordinary Custodial Chapter. The friary was erected in 2019. The friars help the poor and currently run a music school. They conduct pro-life and ecumenical activities (there is good cooperation with the Protestants). They also animate youth leaders, carry out pastoral activities, work with the Secular Franciscan Order and help out at other parishes.
Franciscan Missionary Center
General Secretariat for Missionary Animation