CATHEDRAL DEANERY — Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk welcomed guests from both Romania and Rwanda on March 4, receiving updates on the Catholic Church in these countries. In turn, the international visitors experienced the faith and hospitality of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

CT/EILEEN CONNELLY, OSU

Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk welcomed Father Peter Balint, a priest from Romania, to the archdiocese on March 4, along with visitors from St. Joseph Parish in Wapakoneta. Pictured from left are John Hemmert, parish council president, Archbishop Pilarczyk, Father Balint and Father Henry Albietz, pastor.

His faith community — St. Padre Pio — is the sister parish of St. Joseph’s. Parishioners have visited the Romanian parish for the past several years and conducted fundraisers to support various humanitarian efforts in the post-Communist country. Currently, Father Balint is overseeing a major construction project at his own parish and has been asked by his bishop to supervise the building of several mission churches along the Black Sea once that task is complete.

Also visiting the archdiocese was Bishop Smaragde Mbonyintege of the Diocese of Kabgayi, Rwanda. The bishop was accompanied by other travelers from his country, including Franciscan Sister Patricia Mukanyonga, who oversees three Rwandan orphanages. George Riess, a parishioner at Emmanuel Parish in Dayton and one of the Founders of Bridge to Rwanda, which is dedicated to combating the extreme poverty in the area where Sister Patricia ministers, was also on hand.

During the group’s time with Archbishop Pilarczyk, Bishop Mbonyintege spoke of visiting the Marianist priests at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein, as well as meeting with department heads at the University of Dayton. The bishop oversees the only Catholic university in his country and hopes to set up an exchange program with a college or university here.

There was also discussion about the state of the Catholic Church in Rwanda. The bishop noted that there are 660,000 Catholics in his diocese, served by only 98 priests and 25 parishes and spoke of the need for increased evangelization.