Mission Sunday

DEHON BHAVAN, Kumbalanghy, Kerala
-written by Abraham Lazar, SCJ

A wonderful day, Sunday, October 23, which brought the people together to share their love for the missionaries. The preparation for this day was done within a week by our community here in Kumbalanghy, going around and collecting the people’s contribution to this mission day. They contributed the materials necessary for preparing food, and for the auction. Thus we were able to collect a good amount of money, many coconuts, rice, etc. The day before (Saturday), we started the preparation for this day. Many of our neighbors came and did the preparation for the food for the next day.

On Mission Sunday, as unusual, many people came and joined with us in the Holy Eucharist, in which Father Martin spoke about the specialty of the day, and exhorted the people to make their further contribution to this day. And he stressed, that “we can express our love to the missionaries only through our prayers and these small acts, and it brings joy to all of us as one community”.

After the Mass, people were invited to come and take breakfast with us, by paying 20 rupees (18 rupees for the breakfast, and 2 rupees as their contribution to this mission). Some others bought the food from us by paying the same amount. Meanwhile all our brothers were ready, with many attractive games, such as: throwing the rings on various things placed on the table(by paying 1 rupee you can have a ring and throw it over any one of the things that you want to take; if you are lucky, it will fall on the specific thing which you desire to get for you), Lucky lottery (you have to pay one rupee to take a lottery in which is written the name of the gift (if only you are lucky), and lighting of 15 candles with one match stick, etc.

From all these ways, we were able to collect Rs. 4,319. (From the Breakfast: Rs. 2,381, Games: Rs. 584, Collection for the people: Rs.1,242, and from the auction: Rs. 612.) After all our all expenditures, we were able to collect Rs. 2,472 as an amount to send for the mission.

It was really a day of oneness and joy. Thank the Lord for the gift of the missionaries in this world, because they are able to show the hands of God to the one who wants to experience God…