Priest: to restore the church in Belostok another 6 mln rub are needed

TOMSK, Jan 16 – RIA Tomsk. More than 6 million rubles are required to the Catholic community of the Tomsk region to restore the church in the village of Belostok, which burned down in April 2017, the Father Superior Wojciech Ziolek told RIA Tomsk.

Earlier it was reported that in April 2017 in the village of Belostok, Krivosheinsky district  burned down the Catholic church, which in 1908 was built by Poles who moved to Siberia through the Stolypin reform. The temple was one of two wooden churches of the early twentieth century, preserved in the territory of Russia. In May 2017, the community created a website devoted to the temple, where funds were  fund raising for the restoration of the shrine was organized.  

"All we need is 150 thousand euros. Now we have 35-40% of this amount – 60 thousand euros. If there are still about 90 thousand more (6.2 million rubles), then it will be enough for restoration of the temple", – the interlocutor of the agency told.

The prior of the Tomsk community specified that the already available amount was collected thanks to the website and donations of parishioners. Most part was donated by Catholics from Poland who supported the community of Siberian Poles in Belostok. Also, Catholics from the USA, Spain, Germany and other countries contributed.

"After the fire, services for villagers are held in the village club by a Tomsk priest. One of the last was held on Christmas Day", – the Father Wojciech Ziolek added. He also said that it is planned to create a new temple project in February 2018, and to start construction in the spring, if it will be possible to collect the necessary amount of money.