In Persona Christi on Holy Thursday

 On Holy Thursday morning, Fr. Varghese texted a friend..."Getting ready to wash the feet of 12 apostles..."
This is the missionary's first Holy Week at his new post of Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission.
After this solemn Mass, commemorating the night Jesus gave us the awesome gift of the Eucharist, Fr. Varghese said he had remembered all who prayed for and uplifted him in his priesthood.
"I specially prayed for you all. Because God gave me this gift of priesthood. And I('m) happy today because of you."

Feast of the Queenship of Mary

Fr. Varghese leads a Eucharistic adoration procession at Sacred Heart Mission in Kakinada on Friday, August 22, 2014, the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Just as the monstrance bears the Eucharistic Jesus, the Blessed Mother is a living monstrance, still bearing Jesus to the world. Her mission as Queen of Heaven, is to pray and intercede for us, leading all to her Son. 

Mission work day

The front entrance to Sacred Heart Mission in Kakinada was so muddy and uninviting, volunteers joined Fr. Varghese and visiting priest, Fr. Mariadas, in late August, in laying a concrete slab. Faithful of all ages pitched in, eager to improve their new little mission.

With a fledgling congregation and scarce funds, Fr. Varghese needs parishioners to lend a hand in  beautifying their mission. 

Despite heat and grit, workers had a fine time forming a work crew.

Digging earth by hand with primitive tools made a tough job tougher.

 Frs. Varghese and Mariadas helped form a "fire brigade" to move gravel.

Workers took a welcome break to enjoy a meal. Shown above, Fr. Mariadas lends a hand serving.

The mission signpost for Sacred Heart has script
in both English and Telegu.

"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."

Missions are hubs of renewal

Missions are exciting places, because people of all ages and vocations gather to worship, learn and refresh their spirits. 

Children experience terrace-top catechism with Missionaries of Charity atop Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission in Kakinada, India.

One young student gives her fellow classmate a helping hand 
in learning the sign of the cross.

Several classes meet at once atop the mission roof, because space is at a premium at Sacred Heart. The Mission's multi-purpose hall serves as church, priest residence and schoolroom. 

The "Mariadalem (Legion of Mary)" ladies learn how
to take Mary as model and pray to her as intercessor. They
wear blue to show their devotion to the Blessed Mother.

A "deanery" represents a region within a diocese. These deanery priests within the Diocese of Visakhapatnam came to Holy Family Mission for their day of recollection July 28, 2014. Deanery priests prayed and reflected on Scripture together, availed themselves of Confession, and shared adoration time. Monthly recollection days at various missions across the deanery, provide a perfect chance for missionaries to share news, ideas for better serving their people and general uplift.

As pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission and host of the deanery priests, Fr. Varghese Kalapurakudy wondered how he would feed his visitors.  He lacked funds for a meal until just a couple days before the event, when friends from the U.S. sent a gift so the priests would be fed. Missionaries eat simply from day to day, so were thrilled to enjoy this special meal on their day of renewal.

Missionaries mark 10th Jubilee in Warangal

Fr. Varghese Kalapurakudy joined former seminarian classmates in marking the year leading into their 10th Jubilee as priests. Father took breakfast with four fellow priests at his little residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Kakinada. Then they all traveled 400 kilometers (nearly 250 miles) by bus to meet up with the rest of their class at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the farming town of Jangaon, in the district of Warangal. 

Former classmates share a good laugh before their
10th Jubilee Mass.

"We are gathering and thanking the Almighty God," wrote Fr. Varghese, because He has "protected us and guided us."

In a region less than 3% Catholic, such gatherings are vital in encouraging both missionaries and faithful, who crowded into the colorfully decorated church at Warangal for the July 22nd Mass and celebration.

Thanking God for his vocation, Fr. Varghese, Pastor of Sacred
Heart of Jesus Mission in Kakinada.

The traditional lighting of the lamp at the
beginning of the Jubilee Mass.

Concelebrating priests cluster around the altar.

People line up to greet, thank and receive a blessing
from their priests.

Faithful kiss the hands that consecrate the Eucharistic
Christ in the Mass.

Fr. Varghese and the other priests were presented
with ceremonial shawls...

and received a memento of the day.

A Marian shrine at Sts. Peter and Paul.

The priests share precious time, together once again.

After such a big event he was "deadly tired" when he reached home, admitted Fr. Varghese, but he will always remember this day.