"Friendship Day" mission-style

People from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, India...and students who have come to study at nearby colleges from South Africa: Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Kakinada serves them all. In fact, his faithful are so diverse, Fr. Varghese celebrates three Sunday Masses in the languages of English, Malayalam and Telegu.

Youth group teens prepare flowers for distribution.

Mission youth drew people of all ages and ethnic groups into one big celebration on August 3rd, 2014. Faithful gathered for a group photo, and enjoyed celebrating "Friendship Day." The mission's youth group, the "Warriors of St. John" bought "friendship bands, flowers and chocolates for the children," wrote Pastor, Fr. Varghese Kalapurakudy. Funds raised from selling flowers went to the mission for charitable projects and other needs.

The newly-formed Warriors of St. John Youth Group are already actively reaching out to the needy through projects such as donating blood, and visiting the sick and homebound. The group invites youth to service and a closer walk with Christ, which ultimately impacts the entire community around them.

On Friendship Day, youths erected signs reflecting on the qualities of friendship, along the entrance to their mission. 

Sacred Heart Mission serves Catholics from diverse cultures,
so encouraging unity amongst the people takes high priority.

Encouraged by the Warriors of St. John youth,
people showed appreciation to each other and their pastor
in giving out tokens of friendship.

Youth invite each other into games on the mission grounds.

Many young people come for choir practice.

His youth are coming to see their mission as a second home, and it warms their pastor's heart. They are joining other faithful at their church in being "active and energetic," enthused Fr. Varghese. "They are in action."