In 2009, the size of the community was estimated at 300 people.[1] By 2020, the number was believed to be 100 people, with 4 priests and 8 nuns across two parishes.[2][3]
This Mission sui iuris (pre-diocesan jurisdiction, also known as Independent Mission) for the Catholics is exempt, i.e. directly subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province), and comprises three churches (in the Tajik capital Dushanbe, and Vakhsh near Bokhtar), but no see.
The Institute sent priests from South America to Tajikistan. In 2003, the Church opened a center and soup kitcheninDushanbe for homeless children.[6] By 2004, the mission had three parishes, one mission center, five priests, four nuns of the Missionaries of Charity, and its own website.[4] In 2005, three sisters of the Servants of the Lord and Our Lady of Matara came to live in Tajikistan.[7] The Missionaries of Charity started sewing classes for young women in 2006 so they might develop skills and further their education.[8] In July 2007, Father Avila joined with the 22 non-Islamic religious groups in the country to object to a bill that would greatly restrict the activities of religious minorities.[9] In March 2008, many poor and elderly citizens queued at the nuns house in Dushanbe to receive aid from Caritas Tajikistan, Care International and United States Catholic Relief Service to survive the harsh winter.[10] In 2012, there were three Tajiks studying for the priesthood and three who wished to be nuns.[5]
