Stairs up the mission hill, a Marian grotto, church repairs, a stage for events like First Communions and Confirmations -- Holy Family faithful have gathered to construct these projects by hand over the last four years. Each project is shown in a new parish calendar that will also highlight saints and liturgical readings of the year. Fr. Varghese encourages parishioners to keep the calendar on or near a little home shrine (a little table with Bible, holy water, etc.) and to use it for daily prayer. A friend of Holy Family Mission gave her entire Christmas allowance so Fr. can provide for his people what so many Catholics receive each year and take for granted -- a parish calendar.
Designing the calendar had its challenges, since statehood tensions brought store closures the day Fr. Varghese went to the printer's. He "went to the computer lab, half of the downloading is over, then came the rally, anti-Telangana people shouting slogans and closing all the shops," wrote Fr. Varghese. The shops that did not close, protesters were hitting with stones.
"Buses are stopped. Another devil incarnated in AP in the form of strikes, and so on. So today's adoration is again on peace and serenity in my state."
And just as the mother of Jesus is shown embracing his parishioners on the calendar, says Fr. Varghese, "In the heart of Mother Mary, we are."
Please join this missionary and all his people in praying for peace in Andhra Pradesh.
No comments:
Post a Comment