DUSHANBE (UCAN) -- Maxim Gurezov, 14, had never fully realized that children suffer from cancer.

"It is unbelievable how 12-14 year-olds can suffer so much. They are almost the same age as us and they are so sick," he told UCA News after visiting the Infant Oncological Center in Dushanbe.

Maxim and 24 other young Catholics, boys and girls aged 8-16, spent time together March 21-April 2 during their spring break from school.

"We always try to do make the children's holidays as interesting as possible," said Incarnate Word Father Pedro Lopez, who organized the program. "We want not only to entertain them but also to give them something that will help them grow morally and spiritually, and leave them with a better understanding of human values."

The youngsters, mostly from St. Joseph Parish in the capital, also visited a home for orphans and juveniles detained for minor offences, an Orthodox church, an aluminum plant, a hydropower station and St. Roch Parish in Kurgan-Tube. Three of them came from that town, 80 kilometers south of Dushanbe. While in the capital, they spent nights at the parish compound, while the others went home.

Father Lopez told UCA News he hoped the activities helped the children know more about their country and the lives of others.

Each of them brought a small gift to give the children at the cancer hospital, with whom they spent time talking and playing.

Like Maxim, Orzu Saidshoev also experienced strong emotions at seeing youngsters who are critically ill.

"It is obvious that it is very difficult for them to live there," he said. "I don't think they will feel much better after our visit, but I hope we brought them at least some joy."

Sister Maria Blagoveshenie accompanied the children. "First of all we were glad to bring some joy to the sick children by our small gifts and the attention we gave them," she told UCA News. "It also is good for our children to realize how fragile human life is."

Speaking about the visit to the government home for orphans and minor offenders, Sister Blagoveshenie said: "It might be good for our children to see that not all kids have a good and full family, live at home or receive good training, as most of them have." She expressed hope they "might realize that such simple things are God's gifts, which they should be thankful for and use well."

The Servants of the Lord and Holy Virgin of Matara nun said she had asked the children to bring with them a toy or a small gift to present to boys and girls at the home.

"We thought it would be better not to buy a present but ask our children to share, which might be a nice experience for them. We were surprised when some children brought not just one, but two or three toys to give to the orphans," Sister Blagoveshenie said.

Maxim was touched by this experience too. "Poor children -- they have to live so far away from their families and homes. I don't want to live like this," he said.

The director of the home, which also is a school, thanked the visitors and told them such visits might help problem teenagers to lead a normal life.

One recreational activity brought the young Catholics to the Varzob River, 10 kilometers north of Dushanbe, for a picnic. There they hiked, played games and got to know each other better. Catechism lessons and Mass also were part of the program.

A minor disappointment came when they visited an aluminum factory in Regar, 60 kilometers west of the capital. "Unfortunately, we couldn't enter the plant, because children were not allowed. But we visited the factory museum and learned how they make metal," Father Lopez said.

Sister Blagoveshenie noted that one reason the Church arranges such visits is because not all parents have the money or time to take their children out.

Pope John Paul II entrusted pastoral care in Tajikistan to the Institute of the Incarnate Word in 1997. The nuns who assist them in Dushanbe also are part of the Incarnate Word family, based in Argentina.

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(Accompanying photos available at here)