India

India

Population: 1.252 billion
Percent Below Poverty Line: 21.9%

The Mission of Goa and Daman is geared toward providing social and spiritual uplift to the disadvantaged, including tribal communities along the west coast of India. Deep within a country that has made economic leaps and bounds over the past decade, lies tens of thousands of people lacking basic needs.

The needs are vast in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. From missionary sponsorship to infrastructure support for schools and homes for the needy, we have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of people lacking basic needs.

Explore the tabs to learn more about our many projects in India.

Empowering 1,200 Women in Kerala

About

Two Year Plan for Success

When a baby girl is born in India, her birth is rarely celebrated because of dowries and other societal norms regarding women that poor families can’t afford. From the beginning of her life, a woman is often considered a burden, and this mindset follows her throughout her life. Women—especially unmarried women and widows—are often neglected, abused, harassed, and assaulted. Worst of all, this abuse is often committed by the extended family these women must rely on for protection!

The Diocese of Cochin is ready to respond.

Fr. Marian, Director of the Diocesan Social Service, says, “There are organizations and associations to advocate and stand for” people who are discriminated against, including the elderly and people with developmental and/or physical disabilities, but there are “no noteworthy initiatives” for women in their region of Kerala.

“It is high time,” he says, “to rectify this omission and get down deep into the burning human and social issues of single women with a definite strategy and agenda.”

With your help, the diocese plans to reach out to more that one thousand women and give them access to career training, spiritual formation, and a community of women ready to support them as they work toward a better future for themselves and their communities.

Two Year Plan for Success

The statistics paint a clear picture: 65% of the women polled in Kerala never completed high school; 27% have a high school diploma; and only 2% have ever received vocational training. Of the 1,300+ women polled, only 19 have completed university studies. This lack of access to education and resources has effectively trapped these women in poverty, leaving them vulnerable and alone.

Over the next two years, the Diocese of Cochin will implement an extensive outreach initiative.

Their first task is to spread the word about this new opportunity for local women and to enroll them in the program. In the third month, the Diocese of Cochin will hold a conference for all the women who enroll.

Each woman will recieve skill and vocational training for a year, giving her the opportunity to learn how to be a tailor, caterer, hair dresser, or health worker. She will learn finance and resource management and other skills necessary to successfully run her own business.

Throughout the two-year program, each woman will also have access to job placement services and have the opportunity to join a small group made up of other women embarking on the same journey. They will learn from each other and support one another as they all work to make a better life.

One of the most exciting things about this program is that once they’ve graduated, the women get to mentor and help the women who come after them. The women of Kerala give back and commit to be an ongoing part of the solution to change the social climate in Kerala.

Meet Margaret

Margaret, 47, has faced her fair share of hardship. Her husband died 10 years ago, leaving Margaret to provide for their two children on her own. Because of the disdain with which widows and single women are regarded in India, it was very hard for her to earn sufficient income to pay for her children’s daily needs as well as their education.

Cochin Social Service Society enrolled Margaret in their career training program, offered her support and community. Today, after a lot of hard work and perseverance, she owns a successful tailoring business. She supplements the family’s income by raising cows and poultry.

With the confidence and financial freedom she’s gained, she is able to pay for her children to go to college–her son, Jesu, is studying engineering and her daughter, Mary Anita, is working toward a degree in business communications.

Margaret gives back to the women of Kerala by leading training seminars for other women. She is a great inspiration, mentor, and guide to others following in her footsteps.

Meet Daphny

Daphny, 55, was young when her parents died. They were very poor, and their deaths left her and her brother with no inheritance. Without an inheritance, there was no way she could pay for a dowry. Without a dowry, there was no way she could ever get married.

As an adult, Daphny has lived with her brother and his family. He was recently diagnosed with a heart condition that prevents him from working, putting his family in danger of living in unbearable poverty. After receiving career training from Cochin Social Service Society, she started a catering company and opened a business as a tailor.

She has been so successful that she has become the primary earner in her family, taking care of her brother, sister-in-law, and nieces. She also employs other members of the community!

Daphny’s story is not uncommon. Thankfully, her brother and his family received Daphny into their home graciously, but many single women in Kerala aren’t so lucky. Many widows and women without dowries are neglected, abused, harrassed, and generally considered to be second class citizens. Sadly, many of them are treated this way by the extended family members they rely on for protection!

The classes and support the Cochin Social Service Society provides are a source of true hope for the women of Kerala. With help from CSSS, they begin to believe in themselves and their abilities, and with practical training they are finally able to put their belief in themselves into action!

When we believe in each other, the possibilities are endless.

Meet Moly

Moly, 57, has never been married. After years of living in poverty with no community or family to help support her, she was able to enroll in several of the programs offered by Cochin Social Service Society. She took classes, worked hard, and now owns her own house and beauty parlor. She recently expanded her beauty parlor and continues to work hard, helping other women realize their inherent beauty and dignity.

Updates

This is a brand new project, so no updates yet. Check back often to see how your generosity impacts the women of Kerala!

How Can You Help

You can be the gateway to hope and a bright new future for the women of Kerala. Your generosity will make it possible for more and more women to discover their abilities, regain their dignity and sense of self-worth, and allow them to be independent–in some cases, for the first time.

Any amount you can give will make a difference, but here are some specifics:

$25 will pay for 20 women to attend the diocesan conference which will serve as the kick-off event for the two-year training program
$50 provides for a woman to take two career/service training courses
$100 funds learning materials and 24 sessions for 54 women

Please, give today.

Give a Goat, Change a Life in Kerala

About

How Much is a Goat?

How Much is a Chicken?

The Diocese of Calicut, also in Kerala, India, is populated by the poorest of the poor and people living on the fringes of Indian society–widows, people battling addiction, people living with HIV, tribal people, and harijans (members of the lowest caste). Fr. Alfred, Director of Jeevana, the organization that works for social action and people’s empowerment, tells us, “Unemployment is extreme here, and people are not in a position to lead a dignified life.”

Despite the difficult circumstances, Fr. Alfred and Jeevana are not discouraged. They plan to help 70 of the poorest families in the area to become financially stable, self-sufficient, and able to contribute to the good of their community.

Their solution to a sometimes complicated situation is simple: goats.

New in September 2018: Give Chickens to Women in Kerala, too!

You will soon be able to empower women and poor families in Kerala with the gift of a homestead poultry farm. In addition to goats, these chickens will also provide recipient families with economic stability, self-sufficiency, and a way to generate income and food for themselves. Families will be able to eat and sell eggs, collect and sell chicken manure to local farmers, and eventually breed their chickens and sell the chicks.

How Much is a Goat?

$127.

Giving a poor family a goat is a long-term solution to their poverty. Raising a goat is inexpensive, and the products families can sell from their goat–including goat milk, goat cheese, manure, and eventually, kids (baby goats) and meat–are easily marketable.

Jeevana will choose 70 families–called beneficiaries–based on various criteria, including how great their need is and how dependably they will care for a goat. Jeevana will teach the beneficiaries how to tend the goats, raise them, care for them when they’re sick, milk the goats, and breed the goats. Jeevana will provide veterinary care and conduct monthly field visits to see how the goats and their new families are doing.

$127 covers the cost of the entire program for one family–the cost of the goat, all training sessions, and vet visits.

That’s a small investment with a huge return. Please, give hope and a goat today.

How Much is a Chicken?

$124.

This amount provides recipient families with several chicks, a specially designed chicken coop, and training for every woman or family to learn how to sustain their brand new poultry homestead.

Jeevana plans to choose 100 more families to receive chickens–families who have never before received aid from them!

Updates

Fall 2018

We’re so excited to announce the expansion of last year’s goat program. Coming in the fall of 2018, you can also give deserving women and families a poultry farm! Click here to learn more.

August 2018 – Major Flooding Ravages Kerala

Weeks of torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding and landslides in Kerala. Initial reports estimated that at least 800,000 people were displaced and 350 died. These numbers are sure to increase.

While the situation is bleak for our brothers and sisters in Kerala, there is reason to hope. Catholic News Agency reported that in the immediate aftermath, a Muslim congregation brought food, water, and medicine to a Catholic parish where 500 people sought shelter after fleeing from their flooded homes.

Spring 2018

You gave 70 goats to our sisters and brothers in Kerala, India! Thanks to your generosity, these women and families also received training to care for the goats properly. Goats will play an important role in addressing food scarcity and lack of income for these families. Thank you for giving goats and hope to these grateful families!

Click through the photos below to see the people you gave goats to!

Up Next: “Meet the Families,” an opportunity for you to learn more about the families you’ve blessed with a goat.

Meet the Families

Meet the families you’ve blessed with a goat:

Mrs. J, 36, son Manu (11) and daughter Akhila (10)

Mrs. J’s family is very poor. Although her husband works as a farmer, he battles chronic illness and needs a lot of medical care. The cost of his treatment is high, and his wages aren’t sufficient to cover them. Manu and Akhila also have school expenses, which the family struggles to pay as well. Mrs. J was so grateful to receive a goat!

Mrs. Ajay (42)

Mrs. A and her husband are currently out of work. Her husband is a painter, but he recently fell off a ladder at a job site. He’s been out of work since, and his medical costs are a huge burden for the family. This family is so grateful to have been given a goat.

Mr. W (42)

Mr. W’s wife, Jancy (38) and two sons, Joy and Manuel (9 and 7) were recently injured in an animal attack and hospitalized. One son was in serious condition and transferred to a government hospital in Calicut. As a result, Mr. W couldn’t work (he normally works in agriculture), which left him with no way to pay for his family’s medical expenses. His family just received a goat! We wish Jancy, Joy, and Manuel a speedy recovery and we send our thanks to you, our donors, for helping Mr. W’s family through this difficult time.

How Can You Help

Your gift today will rejuvenate a poor family in India. You will open broad new horizons to them when you give them a goat or a chicken farm.

Can’t afford the full cost? No problem. What if you and three of your closest friends went in on a goat together? $31 from each of you would give a deserving family the goat or chicks they need.

Are you a teacher looking to teach your students the importance of generosity? If just 12 students give $10 each, you’d only have to give a few dollars for your class to have given a gift that could impact generations to come.

Do you have a birthday coming up and want to give a gift instead of getting one? Ask your friends and family to fund a goat or small chicken farm instead.

It can be easy to change the world for a family in need. Together, we can do anything. Click the green button below to give a goat or small chicken farm today!

Bringing social and spiritual uplift to Tribal villages

Community Centers: Construction in Progress!

**11 Centers Completed Thanks to Your Generosity!**

The plan starts with construction of community centers for the dozens of tribal villages speckled throughout the Nagar-Haveli area. While tribal villagers live in huts made of mud, these community centers will be the only facility within reach with electricity. The community centers will provide a venue for: missionaries to provide spiritual formation; celebration of Mass and the sacraments; a place for the children to study; families to pool resources, and much more for these villagers. The community center will be the only facility in the village with generators for light and heat, where missionaries will lead families in programs to better their communities and living conditions.

Tribal Villages

Deep within a country that has made economic leaps and bounds over the past decade, lies tens of thousands of people lacking basic needs.

Dadra and Nagar Haveli is a union territory just north of Mumbai on the west coast of India. Occupied by the Portuguese until 1954, this once dense forest area has been inhabited by tribals for centuries. Today the tribals make up about 60% of the population. The people here live in mud huts, with no utilities or sanitary water. Most tribal people live on subsistence farming, with the vast majority living “hand to mouth.”

Along the west coast of India in the areas of Goa and Daman, tribal villagers and impoverished communities live without running water, electricity, adequate access to medical care and education for their children. Student hostels house hundreds of children without adequate facilities. Homes to care for the sick and disabled are in disrepair and in need of funding.

The need is great in this area of the world, but so are the hearts of the missionaries leading a concerted effort to lend dignity and spiritual uplift to the many people in need.

The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, supported by missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, commonly known in India as the “Pilar Fathers,” have mapped out a strategy to allow communities to help themselves: a plan for pooling resources and utilities, encouraging family interaction within the villages.

The plan starts with the construction of community centers for the dozens of tribal villages speckled throughout the Nagar-Haveli area. While tribal villagers live in huts made of mud, these community centers will be the only facility within reach where children can study with electricity, and families can meet and help each other, and missionaries can minister.

Partnership for Progress

Catholic World Mission has partnered with The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and the missionaries of St. Francis Xavier to provide social and spiritual uplift in often forgotten villages along the west coast of India.

Thousands of Indigenous people in more than 70 villages live without basic necessities such as sanitary water, electricity and proper bath facilities. Children are sent away at an early age to live in hostels in order to receive an education. We believe these people of God deserve a more dignified life.

Everyone can make an impact: The gift of a simple community center can be a temple of hope. And just $20 can provide a month of missionary work in a tribal community. We invite you to explore more about our multi-faceted mission.

The tribal people speak of their gratitude for the community center and testify to the beauty of strong indigenous cultural identification combined with a strong Christian faith:

Community Centers

Your generosity has allowed the tribal villagers in the Mission of Goa and Daman to complete 11 community centers! These centers are vital to their communities.

Fr. Seby, our contact in India, wanted us to give you this message:

“Catholic World Mission has been instrumental in making a huge change in evangelization in our mission. Even the priests seem to have a new spring in their walk! It is clear to me how committed you all are in your Christian witness. I am thankful to all of you for your witness to us as followers of Christ. I know that you will do what you can and I am sure God will do the rest. Thank you.”

Read on to learn about each center.

At time of printing, photos were not available for every completed center. We have included an image of completed centers as often as possible. Where an image was not available, we used an image of the surrounding area. Check back often for more photos and updates!

St. John The Baptist Center, Vasona

The first completed community center is in the village of Vasona. Missionaries from the order of St. Francis De Sales will be leading programs for social and spiritual uplift in this faith-filled community, where 20 families are preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation.

Infant Jesus Center, Chikalda

Not long ago the Chikalda Community Centers walls went up! This month we were able to rejoice when the Chikalda Community Center was completed! This community center will serve 200 families in an extremely poor area of India. The Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão visited and blessed the center as part of the initiative of the Mission of Daman. The occasion was joyful! Refreshments were offered to the people, and they held a parade.

St. Anthony Center, Karad

The Karad Community Center is complete! They weren’t able to get the paint on due to unseasonable rains, but that didn’t stop Archbishop Ferrão from blessing the center, nor did it stop the celebration! People from all over Karad came to welcome the Archbishop. Now they have a place to hold community events, school shows, and hold adult education courses in addition to faith-based events.

Christ the King Center, Bildori

In Bildori, Fr. Tony has been leading the missionaries in the build and often traveled across the river to see the progress. Today the community center in Bildori is completed and the people are so thankful they can use this place for worship. The photos in the carousel show the progress from beginning to end. Fr. Tony is also leading the way in the Dudhani Dining Hall and Kitchen build. We are so thankful for his efforts.

St. Joseph Vaz Center, Chisda

The mission in Murdolpada, Chisda is one of the oldest Mission Stations. Chisda is a very hilly tribal community that has 12 communities in total. Murdolpada is one of the communities within Chisda, with a population of 500 people – about 20 Catholic families. 20 families may sound like a small number, but only 12 Apostles were needed to spread Christianity. Fr. Diniz shares with us that there is great interest in the faith amongst the people.

This community of 20 faithful Catholic families is asking for help finishing their community center! This community center in Murdolpada will serve many purposes including as a place for the children to come together for catechesis. The community center will serve as a space for youth meetings, and a place to celebrate Mass. These eager people are already putting in the labor, but the center still needs the wiring for electricity, and will need piped water installed before it is complete.

St. Joseph Vaz Center, Karasganv

In January 2016, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao inaugurated the community center in Karasganv, India. These community centers are grass-roots. The community comes together for a greater purpose–to build a church home–and in turn begins to thrive. The Karasganv community center was completed thanks to the generous donation of a couple who donated the land for it. The Holy Spirit is alive and working to bring the love of Christ into India, and it has been a sight to behold! This would not be possible without the generosity of Catholic World Mission donors and their open hearts!

St. Thomas Center, Champeapada

When locals heard from the missionaries that other villages were building community centers, they were inspired to build as well! They raised funds locally to build and have a place to celebrate Mass, gather as a community, and study catechesis! We had to share with you how far your donations, love, and prayers are going. See the pictures of their celebration as they blessed the new centers.

Our Lady of Fatima, Chauda

Local villagers in Chauda also funded the building of their community center. They raised money they could barely afford to part with, all so their village could share in the practice of their new faith. We are inspired by their love of Jesus and their willingness to sacrifice so they could have have a church with a tabernacle–and the Eucharistic presence of the Lord–in their village.

St. Teresa of Kolkata, Madhuban

Our Lady of Pilar, Jamalpada

Updates

December 2017: 11 Centers are Complete

Some of the newest community centers include: St. Teresa of Kolkata in Madhuban and Our Lady of Pilar in Jamalpada. Head to the “Community Centers” tab for photos and more information!

September 2015: Mass with Archbishop Ferrão

On September 8, 2015 Catholic World Mission welcomed Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, India at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, Georgia. The Archbishop celebrated Mass for the people of the parish, the Indian community from the sub-continent, and the intentions of Catholic World Mission supporters and benefactors. Nine priests including Monsignor Marren, pastor of All Saints Church, con-celebrated the Mass. They were assisted by 6 deacons. Mass, followed by reception, was attended by over 200 people!

During the Mass Archbishop Filipe was presented a check in support of the Mission of Daman by Father John Connor, LC and Deacon Rick Medina (President and Executive Director of Catholic World Mission, respectively). We give thanks to the generosity of the Indian community led by Danny and Sharon Sequeira for providing the delicious Indian food for the event. We most especially give thanks to donors of Catholic World Mission for their support of the Mission of Daman.

How Can You Help

We urgently need funding for more Community Centers – will you help?

The Catholic Church in India is persecuted every day. Areas that were once Catholic are no longer because of the pressure to “reconvert” to Hinduism, their homeland’s faith. Many continue to stand strong in their faith in Christ, despite the social stigma and pressure to reconvert. They pursue their faith even more by taking theology courses and being active participants in evangelization and communion. Your generosity has changed the future of these communities. We must work together to get these community centers off the ground and build up the Church up in India.

Click the green “Give Now” button above to make a lasting, impacting gift today!

Thambipuram, India

They are labeled ‘dalits,’ – born into the caste segregated system in India where tradition and history deem them ‘lowest class of this segregated system. These people are fighting to escape the social stratification and make better lives for themselves.

Over one-hundred years ago 18 families from Elenapatti, India converted to Christianity to escape the oppressing social stratification and moved to a small remote village called Thambipuram to practice their faith in peace. In the beginning they built a small thatched shed to celebrate Mass in, but it was destroyed by a hurricane.

The People

The people are extremely poor coolies and farmers – unskilled laborers doing whatever they can to provide for their families. They rely on the monsoons to collect rainwater for crops and clean drinking water for the entire year.

“If the monsoon season fails there is great suffering,” Fr. Joseph explained. “Really, it is a big challenge for the people to live their daily lives. But they have great faith which gives them the strength to live day to day.”

They live in standards below what any American could ever imagine. During the rainy season, they still celebrate Mass outside in the dirt. They make no excuses to not attend Mass – to them Mass is a lifeline and a beacon of hope. Father Joseph Rayappan travels over 45 minutes over unpaved road to reach Thambipuram. He shared with us, “The roads are bad and I do much praying on the drive, but to see how many people come to the Mass warms my heart.”

Today there are over 90 Christian families with 160 children in Thambipuram.

“We Never Give Up Our Faith”

Antonyraj has a wife and three children and lives in the village of Thambipuram. He is a leader in the village, and has committed his life to the welfare of the people. To hear him talk about what the church will mean is both heartbreaking and inspiring:

“We are all farmers and we are all poor and mostly illiterate. With the help of Fr. Joseph a few of our children are going to schools. But since we are Christians, we are not eligible to get scholarships from the government.
Even though our poverty is a barrier for economic growth, we never give up on our faith in Jesus. By witnessing and experiencing our faith life, Fr. Joseph is trying to build a church.
I can tell you… even though we are dalit (low caste) by birth, we are higher than high caste in faith and spiritual life. We live for the liturgy and we receive everything from God by our prayers. So in order to experience the presence of Jesus who is present in the Eucharist, we beg you to help financially to have our own church in my village. Thank you so much”

Testimonies

Letter by Mr. Antonyraj

Greetings, I live in the village Thambipuram, a mission of Avudaipoigai parish in the diocese of Sivagangai. My name is Antonyraj. My village has a history of 115 years. The people of my village are ‘Dalith’. Since the people of my village are illiterate and living under poverty, we cannot educate our children. We are all farmers. Only few people have their own land (very little) and others work as daily coolies. With the help of our pastor and bishop, a few children are going to school to get their education. Since we are Christians, we are not eligible to get scholarships from the Government for education but the Dalith of Hindu religion are eligible to get scholarships. Even though our poverty is a barrier for our economic growth, we never give up our faith and we have strong faith in Jesus. By witnessing and experiencing our faith life, our pastor is trying to build a church. Since we are poor and could not build the church, I request you to help financially to build our church.

I am the president of this uratchi. By seeing my commitment, I am elected by the people as president for the second time. As I do my ministry as president, I give importance to my spiritual life. Since we are Christian Dalith, we are not provided even the basic facilities by the government. There is a little town nearby four kilometres from my village; we are surrounded by frorest area (means government lands with only Eucalyptus trees). There is no schools, dispensaries, hospitals in my village. Since there is no proper roads, it is very difficult for us to get our education, medical treatment etc. Since the underground water source is salty, we don’t have good drinking water. I want to tell you one thing: even though we are Dalith (low caste) by birth, we are higher than the high caste people in faith and spiritual life. We are interested in the liturgy and we receive everything from God by our prayers. So in order to experience the presence of Jesus who is present in the Eucharist, we beg you to help financially to have our own church in my village. Thanks. Yours sincerely, Antonyraj.

Letter by Michalammal

Praise the Lord

My name is Michalammal. I am 95 years old. I am living in this village from my birth. Since I never been to school, I am illiterate and I don’t know how to read and write. My granddaughter writes this whatever I say. I have four children and 11 grandchildren. I live with my children and grandchildren. We are Dalith Catholics. In the beginning we had a small thatched shed as church and lived without electricity. Our parish center is 28 kilometres from our village. So we could travel to our parish for Sunday liturgy. Now our bishop had established a new parish Avudaipoigai which 15 kilometres away from my village. Our new pastor comes and fulfills our need by offering mass once a week. Your help will nourish our spiritual life and to grow in our faith. And it will also help us to experience the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. We are and will be grateful to you for your financial help. Thanks. Yours sincerely, Michalammal

Updates

June 2017 – St. Antony’s in Thambipuram is Complete!

We are proud to announce the fruits of your generosity: St. Antony’s Church in Thambipuram, India is complete!

On June 5, 2017, the Thambipuram community gathered to celebrate Mass in their brand new church. Fr. Joseph Rayappan celebrated, and Bishop Susaimanickam was there to consecrate the new altar.

We continue to be amazed by the faith and trust in Jesus our friends in Thambipuram have always shown. We’re humbled by their dedication to the sacraments and their thirst for the Eucharist: when they learned about the possibility of building a church last year, they raised $5,833 of their own money to kick start this project. Don’t forget that they are “dalit”–members of the lowest caste and therefore the poorest of the poor.

By converting to Christianity a century ago, the people of Thambipuram were able to leave behind the caste system that robbed them of their dignity. You have provided a beautiful church where they can also worship in dignity. Thank you!

Our work in Thambipuram isn’t done yet! The people of Thambipuram put forth their own resources to complete this church on time–resources they could scarcely afford to part with. Help us replenish their community’s coffers to recoup some of what they spent on this church. Give now!

See more photos in the carousel below!

November 2016 – Construction Update

Construction is coming along in Thambipuram, India! It’s been so amazing to watch the community come together to help build the first church in their village! From laying the foundation for the church, to raising what little money they could offer to supplement Catholic World Mission fundraising, we are just around the corner from its completion. Today the chapel stands erect in their village. Next steps include adding glass to the windows and building doors, painting the church inside and out, installing an altar, candles, and a crucifix, and building indoor seating.

Easter Sunday 2016

The parish of Thambipuram celebrated the resurrection of Jesus with joy and hope. For the Easter Mass the locals built a thatched shed to provide shade. Fr. Joseph Rayappan celebrated Mass.

January 2016 – The Harvest Festival

Fr. Arul Joseph Rayappan tells us, “Every year in January, we celebrate harvest festival (we call pongal Vila). Each family brings rice (the first fruits from their land) and cooks the rice with some spices in a common place and they share with each other.”

April 2016 – The People Have Taken the First Step

These families in Thambipuram live in a remote, poverty-stricken village and face incredible hardship, but they’ve taken up a beginning collection of $5,833. They pulled together what little money they have to support the construction of their future church. Their thirst for the Eucharist is tangible. They have already bought the sand and the bricks, and are now waiting on the rest of the funding. The people of Thambipuram are putting their faith into action by taking the first steps towards their church.

How Can You Help

Their Need

The feat the people of Thambipuram have accomplished by successfully building their new church, St. Antony’s, cannot be understated. Your generosity was instrumental in making a beautiful new church building a reality. However, in order to finish construction on time, the community had to dip into their own coffers to pool resources they could barely afford to part with.

Their desire for the Eucharist was so strong, they gave more than they could afford so that they could be close to the Real Presence of Jesus. They are living examples of the widow who gives from her poverty (Mark 12:41-44).

Let’s replenish the funds our friends in Thambipuram gave to build St. Antony’s Church.

Mission in Porvorim

Porvorim Center

In 1957, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman was established to serve the growing Catholic population of 625,000 people on the west coast of India. Over 600 priests have served the areas of Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra, and Nagar Haveli in the 169 parishes there. However, with time the priests serving them have retired, and others are ailing. Without family to provide and care for them they have requested our assistance in bringing a Clergy Home for the ailing and retiring priest community in Porvorim. Already, the center there has a hospital for the sick, a chapel for prayer and celebrating mass, and a convent for the sisters.

Clergy Home

Porvorim Clergy Home

A family in Porvorim, Bardez Goa has already come forward and donated a small house and plot for the deserving priest community. Their generosity, and yours, will give men dedicated to serving Jesus Christ a place to rest after countless years of service to the Church in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. Once completed, the Clergy Home will serve over 20 senior citizen priests and provide space for a small staff to care for them.

The land donated for the construction of the Clergy Home was cleared in October of 2015. Only a year later, we can see how far your generosity has gone to construct this new Home. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão can be seen blessing the ground with fellow priest Fr. Valeriano Vaz, and stepping in to survey the progress. The building will have three levels and include a chapel, kitchen, bathrooms, as well as over 20 rooms to accommodate the retiring and ailing priests from the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman!

See more photos of the construction here:

How Can You Help

Your generosity and support is still needed in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman to finish constructing and furnishing a home for ailing and retiring priests! After countless years of dedicated service to the community our priestly brothers in Christ need a safe place to rest before entering the Kingdom of God. Your generous gift today builds a home for eternal life.

Give now to build a place for priests to rest their heads.

Children

The Children of India

Twenty percent of the world’s children live in India and about 11% of those children ages 0-14 are laborers. Priests like Fr. Seby and Fr. Tony fight for the rights of the children, and keep them out of harm’s way. You can support their work by exploring the tabs, and giving generously to their mission.

Click through the following tabs to learn more!

The Story: learn more about the care Fr. Seby and Fr. Tony provide to thousands of children
Christmas Miracles: Learn how you’ve been a Christmas miracle for children in India since 2014
Updates: Read exciting updates about this corner of western India! There’s a lot to celebrate with new construction, new vehicles, and your continued generosity!
How You Can Help: Learn how you can keep giving to children in India in this tab.

The priest and school principal below speaks of his own foundation as a child in the school in Dudhani.

The Story

Dudhani, India

272 children are schooled and housed in a sparse hostel. Away from their parents, they study 7 days a week with limited furniture, and without a cafeteria, they now finally have a place to bathe. The children in Dudhani are no strangers to hunger. The children are left at Dudhani for most of the year, and go home to see their parents only once.

Their parents work long hours and entrust their children to the missionary priests of St. Francis Xavier because they will get better care in school, and it prevents them from “roaming with the cows” in their free time which is very dangerous for them to do. “Roaming with the cows,” means that the children go off into the woods to look for basic needs, the priests and Catholic World Mission want to give them a safe place to be where all their basic needs met.

Christmas Miracles

Christmas 2016

You surpassed all expectations to bring love and support again this year to the children in India! Your generosity let 2,827 children experience Christ in Christmas! These children live far away from their parents for most of the year, only visiting for a few weekends – all because their parents must work constantly to provide for their children. Your generosity gave the children the wonderful gift of chicken and apples to supplement their regular meal of watered down peas on Christmas day. In addition, the children received a small gift of a blanket. You went even further above and beyond in your giving: there was even left over to purchase the children ice cream!

Christmas 2015

This year requests came from even more schools for their children to also have a decent meal to celebrate the birth of Christ. The four schools have over 1,500 children in total and on Christmas Day gave the children a meal of chicken and apples. This humble meal to us is a godsend for them. A generous supporter also came forward so the children could enjoy a small Christmas gift: at the school in Khanwel the children enjoyed their sweet gift of chocolate and a blanket! See photos of the celebration in 2015 below from Khanwel, Chisda, Dudhani, and Shelt.

Christmas 2014

Fr. Tony reached out to us asking to help create the most blessed Christmas for the Children of Dudhani. He wanted to serve apples and chicken in addition to the meager lentils they would normally eat. In Dudhani, India Christmas was celebrated with Fr. Tony – the caretaker for the children. He dressed as an American Santa. To celebrate the birth of Christ, the children went caroling and sang traditional Christmas songs. The children also enacted the journey of the wisemen to Nazareth to see the Christ Jesus. There was much joy that day, the children were well fed, and there was lots of laughter. (Largely due to Fr. Tony’s costume!)

Updates

2017

Fr. Seby’s Big News

Fr. Sebastião Mascarenhas, whom you know as Fr. Seby, was recently elected to be the superior general of his order, the Missionary Priests of St. Francis Xavier! You know Fr. Seby for his untiring work in India, where he has been our partner for projects like our yearly Christmas Miracle food program and supporting the many initiatives we have for children in India.

Congrats, Fr. Seby! We are so excited for you and the next phase of your journey. We thank you for your love and dedication to Jesus, and everything you have done to spread the Gospel and meet the material needs of people in India!

2016

2 new jeeps donated so children can see a doctor when sick

In Veluganv, Fr. Pavin runs a hostel for young girls and boys who would otherwise be on the streets. Their parents work most of the year, and have no one to take care of them otherwise. You recently helped donated a jeepney to this remote village. To have reliable transportation means the world to the children in Veluganv, which is 12 miles from the nearest hospital on unpaved, rough roads.

2015

424 Rosaries given to children in Dudhani

Christ’s mother Mary is a powerful intercessor. When word got out that children were chanting the rosary daily but did not actually have rosaries, ladies from Mary Our Queen Catholic Church in Georiga got busy making rosaries for the children in India. 424 rosaries were donated for the children to carry instruments of prayer. The Sisters of Franciscan Hospitallers of Christ the King pass out rosaries to the girls and boys from both the children’s hostel and high school hostel, and lead them in singing the rosary.

2 new buildings blessed by Archbishop Ferrão

Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão came to bless the dining hall and kitchen for the children as well as say Mass on the feast of Our Lady of the Hills! 20,000 people came from all over the community to celebrate the build of the dining hall and kitchen for the children. It was a joyous occasion. Mass was held, the facility was blessed as well as many children. Everyone also climbed “the hill” that day. The hill is where many people have seen an apparition of Our Lady, and have since climbed the hill on her feast day every year. The children of Dudhani often pray the rosary on the top of the hill, and many people have experienced healing there. It was a blessed occasion for all.

2014

New bathrooms built in Dudhani

With the support of CWM donors, we have been able to construct the bathroom facilities for the children. They have gone from having nothing, to having a functional bathroom to use and bathe! Thank you for all your support.

How Can You Help

Only with your help can we bring a smile to these needy children in India!

Please help us provide the children with:

Reliable Jeep: A lifeline to bring sick children to clinics and to deliver life-saving medical supplies to the children in Khanwel. A reliable jeep will serve the needs of 500 children.
New School Flooring & Electrical Wiring: serves over 600 students in the village of Sindoni.

Will you bring the hope to these needy children today?

Pastoral Institute of Laity Formation

Formation of the Laity

In India, it is important now more than ever for the faith to explode and show the faithfulness of the Lord, Jesus Christ. There are many Christians being persecuted in the name of cleansing. We stand against this persuction and the killings, and support programs that transcend the love of the Gospel.

Pastoral Institute

Theological and Pastoral Formation Institute

Thanks to generous CWM donors, we’ve been able to support the formation of the current 93 laity participating in the two year formation program. The laity will be trained by priests at the Pastoral Institute and will spread the faith to the people in their home parishes in Goa, India.

Formation Curriculum | Objectives, and Cost.

The course was designed as one two-year formation program. The length of the program makes it a serious endeavor. The demand for the class is high, and this year they will be running two courses simultaneously.

During the past seven months, the group has grown in the knowledge of faith, fellowship, and in their prayer lives. Seven of the laity share their testimonies under discretion for fear of risking their lives and those of their families from people and entities who do not believe in freedom of religion. For this reason we have hidden their names from their letters.

Testimonies

Seven of the laity share their written testimonies under discretion for fear of risking their lives and those of their families from people and entities who do not believe in freedom of religion. For this reason we have hidden their names from their letters.

How Can You Help

Just $50 per year can sponsor local laity from the parishes in Goa to enter a 2 year formation program in order to be able to spread the faith to their home parishes.

To continue supporting authentically Catholic evangelization in India consider giving now.

Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales Seminary

About

Bicycles for Seminarians

Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales

The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales live humbly while studying the priesthood. These men studied for years without proper electricity, would walk miles to share their studies and evangelizing in the Archdiocese of Goa & Daman, and hand pick rice for their meals.

Now thanks to your help things are a little easier there.

You helped the missionaries by bringing electricity so they could continue their studies at night. You bought bicycles so they could reach more people in the archdiocese. And thanks be to God, you gave them a tractor! Read more about each story below.

Bicycles for Seminarians

Bicycles

22 new bicycles have been purchased to support the missionary priests of St. Francis De Sales. These bicycles will prevent the seminarians from having to the walk many miles through the mountains to continue their education and faith formation. After these seminarians become priests they will be sent all over the world to serve within the Church, including the many villages of the Mission of Goa and Daman.

Electricity to Study

Electricity

We are thankful for all the help we receive from our donors! Because of you we are able to support the St. Francis de Sales seminary. You have made it possible for these future priests to continue their studies after dark with the new installation: reliable electricity. The seminary offered Mass for Catholic World Mission on Christmas day and continue to pray for our family. Keep checking back for updates!

A Tractor for Income

The Tractor

Life in the seminary is not all glory. You might never know about their poverty, and their plight. At Catholic World Mission we want to share with you an impactful story about the seminarians of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS).

The seminarians at MSFS are very poor, but blessed by God. They work hard and long hours to subsidize the cost of the seminary. The seminarians run a small farm where they grow rice, all their food, and raise pigs and chickens. Every year they produce enough for them and more to sell locally.

For years the seminarians have done all the work by hand. Recently, they asked for our help in buying a tractor. The tractor would help the seminarians work faster, harvest more land, and provide for more seminarians. With joy we are thankful to have fulfilled their request with the help of our donors!

Updates

Spring 2018 – New perimeter wall starts 2018 with a bang for seminarians

The MSFS seminary has many acres, making it possible for the seminarians to live and study at the campus, as well as grow their own rice and livestock. However, they’ve lacked a perimeter wall to secure and demarcate the property. As a result, they’ve had some problems with trespassers.

Thanks to your support and generosity, construction has begun on a new wall around the periphery of the farm and campus! Thank you for helping these seminarians stay safe as they work toward becoming holy priests and serving God’s kingdom.

Check out the progress photos below!

January 2017 – A Roof & 75 Years Young!

MSFS celebrates their 75th anniversary this year! Executive Director, Deacon Rick Medina’s trip to India this year brought him back to the seminary; there he was able to meet with the community once again and assess the needs of the seminarians, so the Catholic World Mission family can better serve them. Over the course of his visit Deacon Rick was introduced to the needs of the community and many of the seminarians. Today, the seminary is in need of many repairs and still has desks that were built in the 1950’s! The seminarians came to study at the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales seminary from as close as Goa, and as far as Tanzania. They shared their gratitude to the Catholic World Mission family for helping purchase the community a tractor and most recently helping reconstruct the roof over the building.

Your selflessness to the MSFS seminary in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman has helped the seminarians literally have a safe roof over their heads! The seminarians are incredibly grateful for your support and include Catholic World Mission and its donors in their nightly rosary.

To continue supporting the seminarians in India, become a monthly donor of $75 or more! This generous donation provides healthcare for the young men studying to become priests, their books, and classes while they work to offset the cost of feeding the community by farming their land. Every gift counts towards the good formation of priests!

Check out progress photos below!

How Can You Help

Just $85 per month or $1000 per year can sponsor the formation of a seminarian to tend to the spiritual needs of tribal villagers.

Will you support a seminarian in India today with a monthly gift?

Little Way Messengers

Overview

The Little Way

Holy Ground

Fr. Selvaraj's Calling

The Progress

Overview

Priestly Formation

The mission of The Little Way Messengers is to form future priests to spread God’s message of love and salvation throughout the world. Father Selvaraj aims to achieve this through establishing a religious order and seminary in southern India to form zealous missionary priests and train them in various cultures and languages to be sent to the four corners of the world where there is a shortage of priests under the patronage of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower.

The Little Way

This order specifically emphasizes evangelization and martyrdom. By going into both Catholic and Non-Catholic areas of need, they wish to spread God’s word to a diverse spectrum of communities, with the United States as its first area of interest. Furthermore, they wish to stress constant availability of priests and seminarians to the lay people. Father Selvaraj also states there is a strong emphasis on convincing the heart to “do all for the sake of the salvation of souls”. With that said, they are willing to die for the faith. The Little Flower philosophy and teachings highlight physical, intellectual, and spiritual discipline. With the word “seminary” stemming from the word “seed”, they wish to treat it as a place of key formation and major development and growth.

Holy Ground

Through the life savings of Father Selvaraj, 5.5 acres of land was secured for the project. An entrance and administrators building has been built, and with the help of donors, the foundation laid for the seminary. As the 34th most expensive place to live, such accomplishments are amazing. By December 2014, they completed the classrooms, dormitories, the dining hall and kitchen. All donation amounts help this project. Future goals to come in the next five years include more accommodation space for seminarians, a functioning chapel, a vehicle to transport seminarians to classes, and much more! The Little Way Messengers also convey that all benefactors and their families will be prayed for during daily masses and prayers

Fr. Selvaraj's Calling

Fr. Selvaraj’s Calling

Father Balappa Selvaraj knows first-hand the blessings and protection received from the Little Flower herself, St. Thérèse of Lisieux. What he didn’t know was that this same saint would eventually guide his vocation and ambitions years later. Father Selvaraj was born in Bangalore, India in the state of Karnataka. With 65 million people in the state, only 2% of the population is Christian.

At age 23, he was a young seminarian, well on his way to living out his faith. He had already completed three years of minor seminary, three years of philosophy and one year of theological study. It was during this time of intense training that he suffered a life-threatening injury from a motorbike accident. Originally taken to St. Theresa’s Catholic Hospital, the young Brother Selvaraj fell into a coma. Doctors predicted a less than 10% chance of survival from the accident. His superior, Bishop Rajappa, from the Diocese of Kurnool, requested the Sisters of the cloistered Carmelite order pray for Father’s healing through the “Novena of the Little Flower.”

Additionally, Bishop Rajappa celebrated Holy Mass every day in the cloistered convent chapel. He took the precious blood to the government hospital, where Father lay unconscious, pouring the blood of Jesus into his injured mouth. Bishop Rajappa promised the sisters that if the seminarian were to recover from the coma, he would hold firm on his intention to establish a Little Way association, with this young man as one of his first seminarians.

After eight days of prayer and to the doctor’s disbelief, the young man regained consciousness. Further intentions soon led to his complete recovery and allowed for his ordination shortly after. Bishop Rajappa then began to set the foundations for The Little Way Missioners, planning to send Father Selvaraj to the United States to finish his doctorate in philosophy.

Although the Bishop died shortly thereafter, Father was able to finish his studies in the U.S. with the help of Bishop Moreno and Father Albert Jowdy in Atlanta. Father Selvaraj went on to serve in several parishes and hold the position of Chief Advocate in the Metropolitan Tribunal in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. With the Bishop’s promise still burning and close to his heart, Father Selvaraj wished to follow up on his intention. The Little Flower’s model of spirituality and sacrificial life had a tremendous impact for Father Selvaraj. Nearly 30 years later, the dream finally received the opportunity to become reality through a meeting with Bishop T. Anthony Swamy, who also shared the same vision of building a seminary in Bangalore. With the permission of Archbishop Wilton Gregory from the Archdiocese of Atlanta and patronage of Bishop T. Anthony Swamy of the Chikmagalur Diocese of south India, the project was launched. Archbishop Gregory granted Father Selvaraj five years leave to develop, grow, and establish The Little Way Messengers. Archbishop Gregory fully supports this mission and stated, “For the benefit of the universal Church, I allow you to go.”

The Progress