Each year, all parishes in the diocese take part in the Missionary Cooperative Plan which
allows us to bring the Gospel to all corners of the world through our financial assistance. On the weekend of August 4 & 5, Most Rev. Antonisamy Francis and Fr. M.S. Selva Raj from the Diocese of Kumbakonam in India, will speak personally at Masses in support of the appeal. Please be generous in your support of the Missionary Cooperative Plan.
The Diocese of Kumbakonam was established in 1899 in the state of Tamil Nadu, India and has an area of 7823 square km and a Catholic population of 213,000 (approx. 6% of the population). It is served by 210 diocesan and 63 religious priests, 588 nuns and 15 trained lay catechists. The diocese has certain concrete and meaningful goals for the New Evangelization in the III millennium such as:
Establishing 10 more new parishes, each with a new church and rectory. At present, this diocese is comprised of 93 parishes and 618 mission-stations. Many of the missions are so large that they have to be made independent parishes with a resident priest. Most Catholics have no vehicle to travel to the main parish church for Sunday Mass and the people are unable to give financial support for such pressing pastoral projects.
Providing the 126 Catholic schools with better facilities, tools, children’s bibles, a projector, catechetical materials in the form of DVDs, pictures, textbooks and workbooks to improve the quality of religious and faith formation of Catholic and non-Catholic students in mission-schools.
Enabling 485 nuns and 2155 Catholic teachers in charge of catechetical, educational, medical and social ministries throughout this rural diocese, to educate the children in the Catholic faith and to help the people, particularly the poor, in their integral development.
Providing buildings and infra-structure to our mission schools in villages since education is a main means of evangelization while the government pays most of the teachers
Education of more young men in the seminary since the diocese abounds in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, so that some could be sent as missionaries abroad where there is a shortage of priests. (Every year, an average of 50 young men and women go out of this diocese to other missions in India and abroad to serve God and His people as missionaries.
Education of 1000 very poor or orphan children every year by providing them with free board and lodging.
All the above mission projects are 80% dependent on the Missionary Cooperative Appeal funds. The diocese is trying to materialize these missionary goals depending on the availability of funds. The mission and spiritual prospects of Kumbakonam diocese are bright but its needs are many and pressing. 60% of its Catholics are depressingly poor, therefore, your fervent prayers are generous help are essential in building the Kingdom of God in and throughout the diocese.