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or the 28 countries in Central and Eastern Europe that were under
communist rule, continuing to rebuild is still a struggle. Many church
buildings were confiscated, and people have very little on which to live.
The Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe
(CCEE) supports projects to build the future on strong foundations.
Projects supported by the Subcommittee work to transform faith commu-
nities, giving hope to future generations.
Romania: Cathedral Construction
After the fall of communism in Romania, virtually none of the Greek
Catholic churches that were confiscated by the communist regime were
recovered. As a symbol of the sacrifice of their ancestors, the Eparchy
of Cluj-Gherla began construction of the Cathedral of the Martyrs and
Confessors of the Twentieth Century in Cluj-Napoca in 1992. With a
grant from the CCEE Collection, the cathedral is on target to be com-
pleted in 2018. It will serve not only as a place of prayer but also as a loca-
tion for pastoral care—hosting a library, conference hall, and activities for
children and youth, as well as an exhibition of the history of the eparchy.
Estonia: Summer Camp
In Estonia, religious observance is rare and very little funding is available
to assist youth in learning about Christianity or the Catholic faith. Last
year, the CCEE Collection provided support to a summer camp pro-
gram for youth. About 30 middle-school aged boys attended the camp
where they not only learned about the Catholic faith but also had oppor-
tunities to attend Mass and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Once they are in high school, boys who previously attended are excited
to return as staff members to lead and help the new group of campers
grow in their faith. With your support, the faith is taking root in this
younger generation.
Slovenia: Archive and Library Construction
In the Diocese of Koper in Slovenia, historical church documents and
records were simply stored on the floor, as there was no proper library