Mass Introduces Fr. Varghese to his People

A classical Indian dancer welcomes visiting priests.

Priests from across the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, traveled to Kakinada June 17, 2014, for a Mass welcoming Fr. Varghese Kalapurakudy as new Pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.

Sacred Heart is new and lacks a church, so people gather in a hall for Mass. A number of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity came from their home just a walk away. The nuns plan to open a residence for orphans and lepers in Kakinada. Fr. Varghese supports the sisters by hearing their Confessions at their convent.

On top, new pastor Fr. Varghese Kalapurakudy 
introduces himself to his flock. Bottom, 
Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity 
came for the Mass.

The total population of Catholics in Sacred Heart includes around 2000 people, wrote Fr. Varghese, in a thank you letter to American friends who showed him "love and caring" during his first visit ever to that nation this past May. 

"Some work in shops and factories. Others are fishermen. Others are vagabonds, who lost everything in natural calamities such as flood, hurricane, etc. My parish is scattered across many meters, so I need to travel a lot to reach my parishioners."

The congregation received gifts of Rosaries
sent from America.

After inviting his faithful at Sacred Heart to join him in a daily 7 PM Rosary, wrote Fr. Varghese, he "re-activated the church choir and the "Mariadalem" (Legion of Mary), who started to lead prayer services and other charitable and spiritual works. Soon we need to organize the youth and youth group, and the altar servers, etc. I also need to construct a church."

However, Fr. Varghese keeps his focus on the "Source and Summit of life," the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He and his fellow missionaries live by this truth, no matter the inconvenience they encounter in serving remote flocks. Fr. Baskhar, shown below, just took up an assignment serving in a distant forest mission that also lacks a church. After Fr. Varghese's welcoming Mass at Sacred Heart, Fr. Varghese and four of the priests helped Fr. Baskhar move to his new home, at Infant Jesus Mission in Kothakota.

Fr. Baskhar, right of Fr. Varghese,
also just moved to a new assignment,
serving a distant jungle mission that
lacks a church.

The most sacred moment of the Catholic Mass --
 Consecration of the Blessed Eucharist.

Fr. John Peter, Celebrant.

The people laid rugs and hung lights to make
 their hall festive for the occasion.

The reverent priests and people prayed for God's
blessings in their lives, in India and the world.