World regions of 2014

•Statistics of US religions

The Colors of The Colors of CuddapahCuddapah

The Colors of The Colors of CuddapahCuddapah

Building vibrant Catholic Building vibrant Catholic Communities in IndiaCommunities in India

Introducing India

• One third the size of the USA

• Three times as many people

• 80% Hindu, • 13% Muslim, • 2% Christianity

Andhra Pradesh is not on the “Tourist route”

Caddapah: The Arizona of India

Beautiful but rugged

Ancient land/ancient ways

The Diocese: equal in size to Maryland

• 150 priests• 350 sisters• 56 parishes • 475 mission stations• 84 schools• 2 industrial training

centers

• 3 junior/vocational colleges

• 1 degree college• 13 student boarding

homes• 12 hospitals/5

dispensaries/1 leprosarium

• 1 home for the aged

Three Apostolates• Pastoral Apostolate• Education Of Orphans • Care of Physically Challenged• Empowerment of Men and Women

1. Pastoral Apostolate• Mission Diocese of Caddapah-

1977• Parish level- 1 or 2 priests for main

station plus 10 substations• Animate people in faith and social

and economic development

2. Education Activities• Vital role in socio-economic

development of people• Stepping stone for success in future• 2500 students: boys and girls• Diocese pays 250 teachers salaries• Free meals and lodging included

3. Empowerment of Men and Women

Apostolate• Development of India lies in

development of Rural sector• 40% live below poverty line• Majority poor deprived of basic living

conditions: safe water, housing, sanitation and healthcare

• Church committed to improving living standards

Main Concerns• Women empowerment• Child development• Healthcare access for elderly• Lepers, Disabled, HIV patients

Influences on Daily Life• Few industries• Tenant farming• Subsistence level

agriculture• Drought

conditions/limited water

• Dispersed population/limited transportation means limited access

• Political minority• Caste system

The Orphanage in India

• The School with 1500 in attendance

• A typical Class room Setting

Lunch time

What’s for Lunch? Rice, Egg & Lintel Soup.

School for the Hearing Impaired

•Happy but cannot hear

Parish life• 80,000 Catholics• Huge attendance• Strong faith• Hope for future• Dignity• Solidarity/identity

2. Administering the Sacraments

• Churches are in towns– Easily accessible– Small for crowds– Central meeting

halls– Visible statements

of Faith

Mission Stations• Stations are small

clusters of Catholic families

• Remote from town

• Dependent on public transportation

Three Key Challenges1. Reaching the

people2. Administering

the sacraments3. Educating the

children

Providing Chapels• Many stations have

no place to worship• Thatched roof/mud

huts built by locals are temporary structures

• Faith needs to be practiced to grow

Building Chapels in Stations

Cost/benefit of Chapels• 800 to 1,000 sq.

ft concrete block buildings

• Cost $10,000 US• $8-$10/sq ft. US

• Provides place for mass, sacraments, meetings, faith formation

• Increases self-esteem of villagers, community bonds, visibility of faith

Christmas Celebration an out door mass

Thank you and God bless you