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PASTROAL ACTION

Youth Apostolate

The first ever pastoral visit of the Bishop was in September 2003. The Bishop's visit coincided with the visit of our Provincial Superior, Fr. Joseph Pulloppillil. With the help of the Canadian Bishops Conference we could organize and conduct several Faith-Formation Seminars and residential catechetical courses for the adults and for the youth. The zonal youth convention saw them in large numbers. The Saturday-Catechism of the children and catechumens are conducted by trained-volunteer-catechists who studied in our first ever one-month-long-residential course in January 2001. The Hicksville and New Hyde Park Parishioners of New York (USA) were helpful to see to the daily diesel expenses the mission journeys within the parish area of 5043 sq. kms of Matutuine district and the parish area of Catembe, another 3000+ sq. kms are very costly as in most of these tracks we have to use the four-wheel-drive. Unfortunately we do not yet have public transport system in Matutuine.

Parish of Catmbe

The MSFS took up Pastoral Work at Catembe on 29th June, 2003. The entire expenses of the two parish administration have to be borne by the Missionaries alone as our people are very poor. The first-ever Lay-Leaders’ Team for Retreats-Animators (in the Ronga dialect) found all our communities having regular Advent and Lenten retreats. Distribution of rosaries and sacred Bibles (Ronga), printing of prayers in Ronga could be done through the support of the Karnati family from New York.

Drinking Water Facilities

With the assistance of Salesan and Mozambique Holdings we could sink 14 tube wells, set up three hand-pumps and two submersible pumps fitted to make water available for the people in the extreme scarcity areas. Many more centers need the same.

Pious Associations & Innovative Ministries

In the year 2002 we started the Legion of Mary and the Apostleship of Prayer in 2005. These, together with the Youth Association, we started the Weekly Jail Ministry along with the Hospital Ministry. In the daily evening rosary the children are the main participants. In our Children’s Centers at Chali, Nsime and Bela Vista we have more than 150 children being cared for and formed from morning and fed at noon. The Sisters actively participate in these programmes.

Social Action

About 95 % of our people live in primitive conditions and in absolute poverty. They need our support in almost everything: water (tube-wells and hand pumps), housing (due to grass-made huts there is hardly any one who is not malaria affected), light (solar energy system), family life (30% are AIDS affected) firmly based on strong moral values. And thus we need you, Dear Confrere and Dear Friend, your support through prayer, presence, encouragement and financial assistance to help our people who do not have the basic amenities of life.

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