Heroism of Fr. Damien Inspires
Mission in India
The
heroism of Father Damien, who devoted his life to the care of
leprosy victims on the
island of Molokai, was
the inspiration that led the first priest of the East Coast
Province of Congregation to go to India. Today the same spirit
inspires young Indian men and women to follow in the footsteps
of Blessed Damien and devote their lives to the physical and
spiritual care of their brothers and sisters especially those
most in need.
Congregation’s Outreach to Victims of Hansen’s Disease
Damien
Institute, an outreach center for the victims of Hansen’s
disease (leprosy) was opened by Fr. Bill Petrie in the city of
Bhubaneswar
twenty-six years ago in a rented facility. It is presently
administered by the Sacred Hearts Community with a small staff
of doctors, nurses, paramedical and other workers and cooperates
with government agencies and non-governmental organizations in
medical, educational and rehabilitation programs striving for
leprosy eradication. In 2004, the Congregation purchased land
outside the city and plans are underway to build a new clinic
that will provide care not only for the victims of Hansen’s
disease, but also for general health including two prevalent
diseases - Aids and tuberculoses. Because the Institute now
sponsors other social activities it has been renamed Damien
Social Development Institute.
Oh!
Calcutta
About
250 miles north of
Bhubaneswar is the city of Calcutta (now
Kolkata) – to be forever associated
with the life and legend of Mother Theresa. Five minutes walk
from the Motherhouse of the Missionaries of
Charity, the Congregation purchased a small building
where young candidates begin their training for religious life
and apostolic ministry. Nearby the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts
have their pre-novitiate.
Bangalore
for Philosophy not Information Technology
The
IT city of
Bangalore in the south of India is also renowned for its
philosophical and related academic training institutes.
Two years ago the Congregation rented a house here,
where two priests accompany ten young men training for
religious and priestly life. The community hopes for a
more permanent home in the future.
Click
here
for text of Sujay Sardar farewell speech made during
SSCC
INDIA going away party for Fr.
Columban Crotty, ss.cc.
NNB Extra:
Fred Carpenter
trip to India with Fr. Bill
Petrie, ss.cc., Provincial
