Newsletter of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts

Linwood, New Jersey Fall 1999 Page 1

OUR GROWING MISSION IN INDIA

For the Honor and Glory of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
...by Our Example, Our Work, Our Service to Others.

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary are a community of priests and brothers dedicated to serving the needs of God's family while witnessing the great love present in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary through pastoral ministries, fostering of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and active promotion of devotion of the Sacred Hearts.

For more information you are invited to contact:
Vocation Director at
609-927-5600

It has been several years since we reported on the dedication of our mission parish/school and community center in Kuchipudi, India. Today, the mission has grown considerably and the work there fills the days of our Missionaries so very dedicated to serving the needs of the faithful.

Day School Children take time for lunch.

The village church, Sacred Hearts' parish, is a core of all the spiritual and social work that reaches out to nearly 4500 Catholics in Kuchipudi itself and six surrounding villages, through the diligent work of Fr. Benjamin Bosco, M.SS.CC., Fr. Anthony Swamy, M.SS.CC., and Bro. Paul Kota, M.SS.CC. They are aided in their work in the outlying villages by lay catechists who run the Sunday Catechism program along with weekday prayer services and religious education. The Fathers visit regularly, administering the Sacraments, saying Mass and joining in special celebrations.

     These outstations also provide tutoring in the evenings for the children, especially those who are learning to speak English.
     A Day school built by our Missionaries has grown from the original Preschool-2 grades to Preschool-8 grades and educates 375 children. Although tuition helps to fund the school, our Missionaries sponsor 50 scholarships. In the evening, a tutoring program provides, free of charge, help to those children attending government schools. Some 300 additional children participate in this program which also helps by providing them with books, materials and used uniforms.
     The parish's social welfare program helps the aged and the very poor with free medical care, financial aid and a bi-monthly supply of rice. Clothing is also distributed. Our Missionaries are able to raise some support from a 9-acre rice paddy and a 1-1/2 acre fishpond but the congregation is a major supporter of the mission.