A Chapel and Parish House for a Mission in India

Ramnagar is the oldest mission station in the Diocese of Bettiah in northern India. Recently, thanks to your generous contribution of $28,900, the mission received a new chapel and parish house, and its consecration was an occasion of great joy. The bishop attended, as well as priests, sisters, and Catholic faithful from the surrounding area, and a Holy Mass dedicated to Mary was followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a blessing of the new building.

The old chapel and parish office were built with mud bricks and more than a hundred years old. Rats and termites had eaten away at the walls, leaving them unstable, and the roof was about to collapse. The chapel, which was already too small to support the growing faithful in this part of India, was now dangerous as well. Additionally, the parish office was unsuitable for use, lacking even restrooms for the priests. The building was in dire need of replacement.

But now, because of our donors, there are not only accommodations for the parish priests and a functional chapel, but an office, a kitchen, a storeroom, and a guest room, all with electricity and running water. And as the parish continues to grow, this space was sorely needed; they will likely need other priests in India to either visit or join them, and assist with ministration.

In a joint letter to ACN, Bishop Sebastian Goveas and parish priest Father Pascal Anand said, “We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of you who made this aid possible, and assure you of our sincerest prayers. May God bless you for your generosity!”

Aid to the Church in Need commits to investing your funds where they will have the greatest impact for the Church we serve. Funds donated to Aid to the Church in Need’s projects will be used towards the greatest need in our programs to help keep the Faith alive.

Code: 317-08-19