Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kalidindi (Agenzia Fides) - Sister Roberta Azhakathel of the Missionaries of the Immaculate (MI) works at St. Joseph's Evangelization and Catechetical Training Center in the Diocese of Kalidindi in India. The MI Community was established in 1967, with a small health center offering medical care to the local population of Kalidindi and surrounding villages. "At that time there were no health services in the area. Since there were no other hospitals, many people went to our center for medical care," Sister Roberta told Agenzia Fides. Through these contacts, many people from nearby villages knew the Christian faith and asked to be baptized.
"With the passage of time, in the area, some hospitals were opened, and made health care available to all. Working closely with these people we immediately realized that they were hungering for the Word of God and that there was need for other sisters to start, finally in 2005, a Center for Evangelization. In 2006, Sister Lorenza Calcagni and Sister Veronica Mendonca were given the task of renovating the old hospital building that was in poor condition. On June 14, 2006, St. Joseph's Evangelization and Catechetical Training Center was inaugurated by Bishop Mallavarapu Prakash."
"The local population is mainly composed of laborers who live on a daily pay,” continues Sister Roberta. When they are not working, they have nothing. Most of them live in shacks or huts of straw and are not able to send their children to school. Furthermore, it is difficult for us to provide a formal education to adults as they are always moving from place to place in search of work. "(RA/AP) (Agenzia Fides 12/1/2010)
