Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The Church of Saint Mary of Tears in Rome was the background for a meeting “Culture like life is necessary for every child, family and community in the world”. Special guest was Fr John Bosco Pasala, young Indian missionary working among the Untouchables in his country.
Fr John Bosco is in Rome from 18 May to 10 June a guest of Italia Solidale organisation to testify to common efforts to eradicate the discrimination which affects 160 million marginalised people in India.
A pop singer until a few years ago Fr John Bosco gave up his brilliant musical career to care for the suffering 'untouchables' in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, seriously affected by the massive Tsunami in 2004. For some years now he has collaborated with Italia Solidale to promote a 'culture like life” by means of a “person to person” movement which today in India involves 12 missionary communities in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka, reaching out to help 150,000 people. The movement is supported by Italia Solidale volunteers, local volunteers and also Italian donors/volunteers who have adopted 3,050 Indian children at a distance. This initiative of adoption at a distance has helped restore identity and dignity to countless Untouchables, children receive the necessary loving care, the families form small reciprocal support groups and gradually become self-supporting by means of "solidarity loans”. These communities gradually improve their living conditions and take concrete action to eradicate discrimination on the grounds of caste, sex or religion.
The “Italia Solidale” association was started 50 years ago by Fr Angelo Benolli, OMV, a missionary and an expert in education science, to promote a new culture like life to satisfy spiritual and bodily hunger.
Fr Benolli, aware that 30,000 children die every day of hunger, and that in industrialised countries 340 million people suffer from depression and almost 50% of the families are separated, has always sought ways to help alleviate suffering. Today the association assists 2,000.000 people in 90 missionary communities in the south of the world, backed by the support of 20 dioceses and religious congregations and three types of voluntary commitment: Italia Solidale volunteers; local volunteers; 25,000 Italian volunteer/donors who participate adopting Italia Solidale community children at a distance.
(AP) (6/6/2007 Agenzia Fides; Righe:36; Parole:441)
