Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - Guanelliana Summer for children in India coincides with the months of April and May, when lessons stop and the temperature in places rises to 45°, as it does in the mission in Andhra Pradesh, with complications, even fatal for health conditions, especially among the poorest people. “ In Guanelliana Summer orphanages - we read in a letter from Fr Luigi De Giambattista, superior of Divine Providence Province - during the Summer we try to make sure the children have contact with family members in their village of origin. But there is always a group of orphans whose only home is the Guanelliana family. In parishes activity continues as normal”. Summer school and formation in values for more than 500 boys and girls aged 5 to 15 with the support of teachers and many games. “The children follow school lessons under a roof with the help of volunteers, priests, laity, seminarians, all the year round with a short break in May, the festival time for villages ” Fr. Luigi writes.
Every Sunday the Oratory in Bangalore continues to function at the novice home with times for recreation, prayer and formation for 130 children organised in groups, mainly Hindus and Muslims, about 20 are Christians. We organise short formation courses on the Guanelliana charisma and practical experience helping the poor. With great enthusiasm the parish embraced a mission in Talavadi, which helps 400 disabled persons over a vast area of 103 villages, with regular weekly occasions for social integration and human promotion which we call “Celebrations of life and solidarity”. In India, moreover the Summer is an opportunity to hold “Vocation Promotion Camps” for people interested in following the Lord as part of the family don Guanella. For the first time the Guanelliani have five young men from Orissa. Orissa state was recently bathed in bloodshed and violence. The young men asked to take part in a formation course in Andhra Pradesh. (AP) (20/7/2010 Agenzia Fides)
