Sunday, June 5, 2016

St. Francis Church, Atlima, Orissa

 Four Hours Journey from  we reached this Mission in Orissa….it is being looked after by the Capuchins since four years…..It is deep in the forest…..the roads are not good. There are villages which are totally Catholics and the faith dates back to as early as 1910….when some Vincentian missionaries started working for the tribals. There are four to five types of tribes but they speak one Language that is Oriya……the land is very fertile but the people depend heavily on the Monsoon. They just cultivate rice and nothing more….some of them have maze and other vegetables. The villages are all surrounded by green mountains. They also cultivate rice on the slopes of the mountains. There is electricity but it shows its bright face one in a blue moon. There are hardships all around…..the government schools as we all know how they run……
The Bishop has invited the Capuchins and asked them to develop the area. You need finance to develop ….first of all a friary for the friars…..there is no Church for the people….in the village there are 1500 Catholics and another 2000 Catholics are spread out in 14 villages……
The friars work very hard for their spiritual nourishment but the people need a lot social and educational, medical services……
The houses are actually like huts. When there is storm everything gets flown away…..the temporary shed of the Church gets flown away and the parishioners with faith come and put it back…..they asked me how long…..why don’t you help us to build a Church here….



 The houses of the people.....

 You think you can help some way....do come forward....contact the Capuchin province of Mary Matha Province, India







 Ant Hills are very common....




 This is the Church....poor church for poor people......we can do something for the Poor Christ......in Atlima......

 This is the residence of the friars....
 No flowing water,,,,no tanks on top of the house....just a hand pump....that too came just some one month before.....
 The toilet for the friars.....





 No dining tables......all on the ground...

 Two young friars.....living here in the house above





 These young ones want good education....calling us all to render a helping hand...




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