MOSCOW, APR 6 (ZENIT.org).- The rebirth of the Church in Siberia will soon have the support of Carmelites, who, within the new few days, will arrive in Usole, a city of 100,000 inhabitants, near Lake Bajkal. The news was confirmed by "Vidimus Dominum," the religious communities' information service.

    The territory of the Siberian Apostolic Administration is thirty times the size of Italy, and has only 28 priests, the majority being Priests of the Divine Word, Salvatorians, and Salesians. Out of a total population of 25 million inhabitants, Catholics number only a million. They are generally persons who were deported from Germany or Ukraine many decades ago, or their descendents.

    At present, the Carmelites going to Siberia are from Poland. The order expressed its hope that the community there will soon grow. ZE00040602