India

PR9: INDIA, Jalandhar, Punjab

EDUCATIONAL CENTER for school dropouts

The new Rogationist Missionary Project of 2023 goes in favor of an “Education Center for school dropouts” in Jalandhar, Punjab, India.

The Rogationists have been present in India since 1987, in Kerala, a southern state, which has a significant presence of Catholics.

In recent years the confreres have felt the need to open new offices in other states of India. Some of them have entered the state of Punjab, in the far north, where the Catholic presence is minimal, just over 1%.

LOTS OF CHILDREN OUT OF SCHOOL

One of the most serious problems in education is early school leaving in the state of Punjab. Despite government initiatives to reduce the school drop-out rate, the figures continue to be very alarming. It is very worrying that 20% of children drop out of school at primary level, 37% when they reach middle school, 40% at secondary level and 78% at 10+2 level, or that 78% of children in class I drop out when they reach the upper classes. It is very worrying that out of the total number of students enrolled in the first class only 22% reach the XII class.

According to the survey conducted by the Directorate of Education, in the State there are 169,000 children in the age group 6-11 years and 128,000 children in the age group 11-14 years who do not attend school.

According to the available data, 297,000 children in the age group 6-14 years and 1,052,000 children in the age group 14-8 years are outside the school network.

In addition to working as labourers or assisting parents in their work, the other reasons why children stay out of school or drop out, identified by the Directorate of Education, are:

1) poverty,

2) large family,

3) lack of inspiration/interest/sensitivity or disinterest between parents and children,

4) illness/death/unemployment/emigration of one of the parents,

5) lack of teachers/infrastructure in schools,

6) non-stimulating/difficult study program,

7) non-interested/non-stimulating/difficult teachers,

8) not convenient time,

9) access to difficult/far school, etc.

In addition to the reasons mentioned above, field studies also suggest that many parents still hesitate to send girls to co-educational institutions and are particularly opposed to those where there are no female teachers.

It therefore becomes important not only to provide sound education, economic incentives and committed teachers, but also to address socio-cultural impediments by providing them with a solid atmosphere and a healthy environment for education.

PRESENCE IN JALANDHAR among the poor and the boys

THE DISTRICT AND CITY OF JALANDHAR

Jalandhar is the third most populous city in the Indian state of Punjab and one of the districts of Punjab.

Archaeological explorations carried out in recent years have shown that the present-day region of Jalandhar district was part of the Indus Valley Civilization. The district comprises a geographical area of 2,624 sq km. The city has a humid subtropical climate with cool winters and long, hot summers. Summers last from April to June and winters from November to February.

Summer temperatures range from average highs of about 48 0C (118 OF) to average lows of about 25 0C (77 O F). Winter temperatures have highs of 19 0C (66 OF) and lows of -7 0 C (19 OF). The climate is dry overall, except during the short southwest monsoon season in July and August.

Because it is located in the northern plains, it is very cold in winter and very hot in summer.

According to the 2021 census, Hinduism and Sikhism are the religions of the vast majority of Jalandhar’s inhabitants: 74.90% of the city’s total population are Hindus and 21.39% are followers of Sikhism.

Muslims and Christians are smaller groups. The district is also famous for the production of sports equipment, rubber products, surgical instruments, power tools etc.

THE DIOCESE OF JALANDHAR THE PLACE FOR OUR MISSION

DUE TO POVERTY, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL.

PREPARE STUDENTS TO PASS EXAMS

At school and in life

ROGATIONIST PRESENCE IN JALANDHAR

The Rogationists, with a great desire to expand their missionary activities in the northern part of India, pledged to establish their presence in the state of Punjab in the year 2016.

With this intention two students of religion were sent for their theological studies, which were ordained in 2020.

Recognizing the importance of the apostolate of evangelization, the apostolate with the poor and needy and the emerging need for apostolate in the field of education, the Rogationist Fathers were involved in the parish apostolate, learning and adopting the new culture and studying the various possibilities of apostolate in which the congregation can be involved.

Currently three Rogationist Fathers are engaged in the pastoral and social activities of the Diocese.

Meanwhile, some religious students continue their theological studies at the Holy Trinity Regional Seminary in Jalandhar to further strengthen our missionary activities in the diocese and state of Punjab.

REQUEST FOR COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT TO MISSIONARIES

Being a missionary today is not determined by the service that takes place or only by the various needs that one tries to remedy. Being missionaries means first of all being with Jesus, serving Jesus, communicating his word everywhere and to anyone.

Mission is also a commitment to look at man in his reality and in his needs. We should say thank you to the many poor people who allow us to learn to love and to serve as Jesus himself taught us. In fact, the primary purpose of the mission is not to be interested in great social or political problems or to make great plans, but to meet people and tell them that God is participating and touched by their difficulties.

The first support is to meet and help needy families to provide for the good of their children; And this presupposes and requires a home, a family, parents aware of their responsibilities.

Through the mediation of the missionaries involved on the spot, it is possible to support families and assure the little ones what is most important to them: food and school education.

Poverty is one of the first enemies of school. Those who are not educated have no chance of building a better future. This is especially true in the world’s poorest countries. Where not knowing how to read or write means being often condemned to hunger and misery. In poor countries, one in three children is unable to study. The main objective is to provide the to, through distance adoption projects, in the belief that we are helping so many children in need of help. It is at that moment that we go to ask God to help us every day, to be able to share more and more their experiences, their discomforts. Asking Jesus to make shine in the midst of everyday problems the light of his consolation and the gift of his salvation. Distance adoption does not always involve direct contact between the adopted child and the adopter.

PROJECT PURPOSE and expected costs

To this end, we will offer regular classes and present ourselves to the exams organized by the government so as to meet the requirements of the department of education and obtain the certificate of completion of the school, which allows them to continue their university studies.

WHAT IS NEEDED AND THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT

For the realization of this project three classrooms for sixty students, an office and two bathrooms are needed. The total area includes 2995 square feet (278,2446 square meters) and the total cost of construction is 56,25,000.00 Indian rupees (75,000.00 euros).

ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT

The completion of the construction of the project would take six months from the time of the start of construction.

We intend to start construction by the beginning of January 2024 and start classes by the beginning of the academic year in June 2024. The proposed project aims at this significant result, since we are called to be good workers in the Lord’s vast harvest.

News

Fundraiser for Rogationist Missions in Africa

I never saw so many children like when I’ve been in Mugombwa, Rwanda. Their eyes are still deep in my heart. These are the children of Mugombwa in Rwanda, a Parish where Rogationist Fathers have their Mission. Please, support the Missions of the Congregation of Rogationists. Even a small donation can make a big difference. God bless you!

St. Hannibal

The meeting with Zancone

As a young priest, St. Hannibal met Zancone, a young beggar, half blind, and asked him “Do you know the things of God?”. He answered: “And who will teach that to me?”. St. Hannibal said: “I’ll be visiting you”. Zancone lived in Avignone, a very poor area, and from that time on, St. Hannibal started going there continuously.

St. Hannibal

As a boy, helping the poor

Still a boy, being in college, was so sad because of the rudeness of his classmates who started throwing food to a poor man eating in the dining room with them. Took all he could and run after the poor man, to give him something to take away. The man embraced him crying.

News

Serve Center at St. Elisabeth in Van Nuys CA

St Elizabeth serve center is a joint endower of St Elizabeth parish and Rogationist fathers in California. The center has always been under the direction of Rogationist fathers.  

St Elizabeth serve center extends help to families who are in need. Serve center is open every Tuesday to distribute food for needy families. We give food for 200 families at this time of Covid 19. The center has fifteen volunteers to support its different activities. The volunteers prepare bags of groceries, vegetables, fruits and meat products to be distributed on Tuesdays.     

Center provides all kinds of groceries, clothings and special bags for our homeless friends. Center helps people who are unable to pay their bills and rent.  The center is a big help for those who are laid off from their jobs in this time of covid19. The center caters to the different needs of the poor in van Nuys. 

The center does special events for thanksgiving, Christmas, St Anthony, St Elizabeth, St Hannibal and Easter. These special events are for three hundred to three hundred fifty families.  Serve center does its daily administration through the generous support of its benefactors and parishioners.

 Fr Shinto Sebastian, responsible of the Server Center

Africa

PR8: AFRICA, Nyanza, Poor Children

In the “Centre St. Antoine”, in Nyanza, Rwanda, the Rogationist Fathers take care of orphans, abandoned children and street kids, since 1988.

In the African country of a thousand hills, Rwanda, in the town of Nyanza, 90 km south of the capital city Kigali, you can find Saint Anthony Center.

It is a shelter for underprivileged minors, male and female: orphans, abandoned children, children found on the street.

Since 1988, our religious family of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus, founded in 1897 by Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia, has been taking care of the integral education of hundreds of boys and girls who have found their home here.

Some of them have been abandoned by their parents, and others, despite having a family, have left their homes because of poverty or some conflicts in the family, preferring to live on the streets.

Saint Anthony Center has always tried to guarantee all of the children everything that is necessary for their healthy growth so that after so much suffering, these boys and girls can become mature people, capable of accepting their limits and discovering their potential, knowing the rights and duties of a dignified life.

Our Center pays for everything that these children need: food, housing, medical assistance, clothing, education, etc.

We certainly cannot replace their parents, however, with God’s help, we try to create an environment that helps them lighten their difficult life so they can grow in love for God and their neighbors.

The charitable activity of Saint Anthony Center is not provided only for resident boys and girls. It is also aimed at poor families, in particular by providing scholastic support for their children since otherwise they could be excluded because they lack financial means. We also support the sick and the elderly who have been left alone.

Inside the Center there is also a nursery school for local children and the Social Office, where the needs of many disadvantaged people can be met.

Fulfilling this mission requires constant commitment on the part of our team of priests, educators and social workers, as well as the material help of so many good and generous people without whose spiritual and financial support, we could not make it.

Rogationist fathers of Nyanza

Contact info:

Centre Saint Antoine

Pères Rogationnistes

BP 15 Nyanza,

Rwanda (Afrique)

Feed the HomelessProjects

PR7: USA, Van Nuys, Feed the Homeless

Through the generous help of many people we are able to go out every week to feed the homeless of Van Nuys. We have a team of volunteers who enjoy to prepare sandwiches, spaghetti and tacos.

Volunteers giving food to our homeless friends

Philippines

PR6: PHILIPPINES, Davao, Mission

In the city of Davao, Mindanao Island, “St. Anthony’s Boys Village”, founded in 1998, provides financial and educational assistance to children in need and a real future for them and their families.

India

PR5: INDIA, Nalgonda, Mission

The Rogate ‘Sneha Bhavan’ Boys Town in Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, is the first mission house of the Rogationist Indian Mission, where children receive affection, education and a real future.

‘ROGATE SNEHA BHAVAN’ at Nalgonda, Andhra Pradhesh is the first mission station of the Rogationist Indian Delegation. Two of our Indian Rogationists fathers (Frs. Saji Kappikuzhy,RCJ; Shaju Koonathan, RCJ) came to Andhra Pradesh on August 1, 2009 in order to get an experience in the field of street children’s work and to look for the possibilities to start  a mission station. They stayed seven months with the Don Bosco Navajeevan at Hyderabad and Vijayawada to learn the language and to experience their work with the street and working children. After having an experience in this field, and as a response to the invitation of the Bishop of Nalgonda, His Excellency Most Rev. Govindu Joji, they arrived at Nalgonda on 26th march 2010. The Bishop welcomed them and expressed his great desire to have our presence in his diocese.

They were given accommodation in Kolping (youth) center near our land. This temporary house was blessed by His Excellency Most Rev. Govindu Joji on 6th April 2010. Bishop gave us one acre of land free of cost and other two acres we bought from him for the purpose of our project. This Rogationist project at Nalgonda district could accommodate 50 boys as interns. It can also offer short term courses like carpentry, electronics, electrical, welding, computer, Bakery, Plumbing, printing technology etc… to many poor and marginalized children of this area. The mission of this project is to provide relief to children at risk of any age, race or religious belief and the vision is to enable the individuals to take responsibility for the future into their own hands and to live independently.  

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