convent Background

History: St. Elisabeth Convent is named for the martyr Grand Princess Elisabeth, and was founded in 1999 in the village of Novinki on the outskirts of Minsk in the Republic of Belarus. It originated from an Orthodox Sisterhood of the same name.

Mission: The convent and sisterhood provide spiritual support and social help for the sick and the suffering. Their ministry serves in the National Belarusian Psychiatric Hospital, boarding home for special-needs children, boarding home for mentally challenged adults, rehabilitation center for mentally challenged children, municipal hospital and tuberculosis clinic. There are 2,000 patients in 37 units. Visit www.obitel-minsk.by

Project: In their workshops, the nuns and employees make handcrafted items such as rosaries, icons, nesting dolls, Christmas decorations, small decorative boxes and prayer cards. Proceeds benefit their ministry. In the Valley, the nuns are scheduled to visit various churches, coinciding with Masses, to sell their handmade items. Stops in the Valley follow, and others may be added.

St. Edward Church, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown: 4 p.m. today and 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday.

Christ Our Savior Parish, 4:30 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m. and noon Sunday at St. Nicholas Church, 764 Fifth St., Struthers.

St. Mary Church, 3504 Main St., Mineral Ridge: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

St. Jude Church, 180 Seventh St., Columbiana: 8:30 Friday.

St. Stanislaus Kosta Church, 430 Williamson Ave., Youngstown: 8 a.m. Dec. 18.