Aid to the Church in Need: India: Help to build the church of Our Lady in Azhikkal

India: Help to build the church of Our Lady in Azhikkal

Posted by Project of the Week on 6/2/2009, 1:38 pm
Board Administrator

INDIA

Help to build the church of Our Lady in Azhikkal

Azhikkal belongs to the diocese of Kottar, which was first established in 1932 and today belongs to the state of Tamil Nadu. The fishermen who inhabit this region are overwhelmingly Catholics, devout and peace-loving but extremely poor. The region was devastated in 2004 by the terrible Boxing Day tsunami. Many of the fishermen lost their houses and all their possessions and have been living ever since in makeshift accommodation. Apart from fishing, they have almost no other way of earning a living. Azhikkal, which has around 2,600 Catholics, was hit hard by the tsunami. 68 people lost their lives and 450 houses were destroyed. The little chapel, which was very close to the sea, was likewise almost entirely destroyed by the tsunami. Now 250 new houses are at last being built - much further from the coast - and the Catholic faithful would also like to build a new church to accommodate at least 1500 people. As there is no way the local community can find the necessary funds, their bishop, Rev. Peter Remigius of Kottar, has turned to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) for help.

ACN has promised a grant of $30,000. To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

Work has already begun on the new church
(Code: 317-01-10)

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org