The Catholic Church in Azerbaijan, the land of "fire and wind" between the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, was entrusted to the Salesians of Slovakia in 2000. Ten Salesians in Baku are missionary pioneers not only in the congregation, but for the entire Catholic Church: the Salesian community of Baku serves the only Catholic presence in the country. Together with the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, they carry out pastoral, social and educative work in this post-soviet country with a large Muslim majority. In September 2015, the first two Daughters of Mary Help of Christians came to Baku with a view to opening a work there soon.
On 29 April 2011, the Holy See and Azerbaijan signed a Concordat regulating juridical relations between the Catholic Church and the State. As a result the Prefecture Apostolic of Azerbaijan was established on 4 August 2011.
"The presence of Fr Rozmus at the liturgical celebrations and his meetings with young people and volunteers brought an atmosphere of joy and a sense of belonging to the great Salesian Family in the world," says Mons. Vladimir Fekete, SDB, Prefect Apostolic in Azerbaijan.
