A residential care facility for people with mental disabilities is a medical-social institution that provides permanent care to people who need daily help in attending to their daily living, self-care and medical needs, and offers occupational therapy and rehabilitation programmes.
The lay sisters and volunteers from the Convent of Saint Elisabeth care for the residents of several institutions - including a residential care facility for children with developmental problems, and the care homes for people with mental disabilities and the elderly, Numbers 1, 3, and 4, located in Minsk City and nearby.
We arrange participation in worship services and the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist for the patients. We also help organise various leisure activities and events. Over 500 residents benefit from our activities, including around 200 disabled children.
Children with disabilities may attend classes in drawing and clay modelling, and participate in outdoor games and scenic day trips. As members of our animated cartoon studio, they learn to make craft items and cartoons.
Some children from the residential home also attend the Convent's theatrical studio and participate in the studio's theatrical performances as actors.
To meet the spiritual needs of the patients, we have worked with the institutions to set up chapels and areas of worship. At the church of Saint Blessed Xenia of St. Petersburg, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated weekly for the patients, followed by the Akathist to the church's Patron Saint. A chapel in honour of the Icon of the Holy Mother of God of Kikkos serves the spiritual needs of the patients of the Boarding Home No.4
A Divine Liturgy is celebrated regularly, and all the patients can take part in the Sacraments.
Brother Ivan Shostak, a parishioner of Saint Elisabeth Convent, rings the bells in the bell tower of the long-term care facility for people with disabilities. We interviewed him about his obedience, how he came to be doing it, and its significance…
The supplementary education centre for children and youth ‘Kontakt’ recently hosted an event that many had been expecting for a long time. Young disabled artists received copies of the newly published calendars illustrated with their works.
We continue to tell you more about the different ministries that we conduct here at Saint Elisabeth Convent. We have already touched upon the topic of bringing God into the lives of disabled children that live in the boarding homes of Minsk.
