Update from the Pallottine Mission in India
Dear Friend of St. Jude,
I recently received wonderful news from Sister Diana Lasrado, Pallottine Sister serving in the Holy Family Province in India. Sister Diana writes that thanks to your kindness, compassion and support, the girls at our Krupa Bhavan Center are thriving and doing well in their studies.
All of the children at the Center are infected by HIV/AIDS and need special care. Amid the HIV/AIDS pandemic in India, these infected girls watched their parents waste away from the deadly disease. Then, they were outcast – thrown out by their extended families – the people who should have nurtured them and loved them as the innocent suffering children they are.
Our Pallottine missionaries rescued them from the streets and brought them to the Center. Earlier this year, I appealed to you for help, and you answered!
Sister Diana writes…
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generous support to Krupa Bhavan and especially to the HIV infected girls. I want to tell you about their progress.
This year, Sunitha who is in the 12th grade got first rank at the college level and second in the district level. The other three girls, Saritha, Srilatha and Sririsha passed with grade A. They do not want to return to their communities so I am sending them to college for day classes.
Seven girls passed into 10th grade. Three received distinction level and four passed with As. All of them will go to junior college for 11th and 12th grades.
Ten girls are doing their high school studies. All are doing very well academically.
Education makes such a big impact on these children. They gain knowledge, understanding and a great sense of self-worth. We organize special activities to expose their talents, such as singing, art and dance.
Every month the children are taken to Karmnagar District Hospital for antiretroviral treatment. We also take them to the local medical doctors whenever they fall ill. Due to change of weather, they are prone to diseases like cough, cold, fever, headaches, diarrhea, weight loss and skin allergies. We try our best to keep them happy, cheerful and healthy.
We provide the girls with nutritious food, which contains a lot of proteins, vitamins and sufficient minerals. We include eggs and nutritious shakes daily, a lot of vegetables, and meat and fish twice a week.
We organize the calendar year with activities and celebrations, including birthdays with special prayers, cake and homemade sweets. We try our best to make the children feel special.
When I told the girls how you and your family of supporters have helped them, they wanted to meet you. They are so very grateful for all you do for them.
It is my hope that you won’t forget them. This coming year, with more girls advancing educationally, we will have to bear more expenses for their studies as well as for other basic needs.
I hope you will help me continue to bring the hope and healing of a compassionate Christ to these children by offering your prayers and financial support once more. Together we make a tremendous difference in their lives. Please send your most generous gift today.
When you send your gift, be sure to include your special intentions. Our priests and brothers will place your intentions in the hands of St. Jude and make sure they are remembered in our prayers, Novenas and Masses at the Shrine.
Please know that you can count on me to seek God’s hope and healing for you and those you love. Know, too, that just as we’re praying for these needy children in India, we’ll also be praying for your children and grandchildren as they head back to school.
Wishing you the hope of St. Jude,
Fr. Peter Sticco, S.A.C.
Novena Director
P.S. Please send your gift today to help support the children of the Krupa Bhavan Center as well as St. Jude Shrine and the poor we serve. Be sure to send your prayer requests so they can be remembered in the prayers and Novenas at our Shrine and on the tomb of St. Jude in the Vatican.