Fr. Raj visited his family in India last January after not traveling for more than three years due to Covid. While he was home in India, he was visited by some elders of his boyhood parish, the Infant Jesus Mission Church. They invited him to come and see the church and the work they were doing to restore it. Over the years since Fr. Raj attended the church, its condition had greatly deteriorated.
Fr. Raj was shocked to see it needed many repairs. The tower to the church is near collapse, the sanctuary has no tabernacle to house the Holy Eucharist, the ceiling is falling down and the brick interior is crumbling. Fr. Raj even lent a hand trying to move the work forward by donating some of his own funds used for travel. Progress to restore the church has come to a halt however due to inadequate funds available.
The elders of Infant Jesus Mission Church are asking for our help. Many of the parishioners are poor, unemployed, or barely able to meet their daily needs on the low wages they earn. Like other Catholics in that part of India, they are inspired by the Apostle St. Thomas who brought the Gospel to India soon after the death of Christ.
Thank you for considering a donation to help in the restoration of the Infant Jesus Mission Church who helped to inspire our own Fr. Raj to follow his vocation to the priesthood. You can give an online donation (see below), place a check in the collection basket (or drop if off at the office) at church with "India" and/or "Infant Jesus" in the memo line. God Bless you and thank you for your generous giving!