When Chennai’s leaders decided to ‘clean up’ the city to boost the tourist trade, over 100,000 residents were moved to Kannagi Nagar.
Children growing up in Kannagi Nagar have little hope for the future. For many, life is harder still. Some families have so little that they have no other option but to live on the pavements beside the busy roads.
Thankfully, the Sisters of Don Bosco set up the Marialaya project – a name which means ‘House of Mary’. With Missio’s support, they offer hope to families in dire poverty, and education for children forgotten by the system.
Our Christmas Appeal
Many children in Kannagi Nagar have no chance of attending school, or getting any formal education. Sr Nirmala explains why and shares how she and the Sisters at Marialaya are working to ensure that every child can rewrite their future.
Click here to read on and watch video messages from the children at Marialaya>>
Christmas Crib Collections
Traditionally some Parish Priests have kindly offered their Christmas Crib collections for our Christmas Appeal. If your parish can support Mission Together in this way, you can advertise the appeal with these resources.
Four simple ways you can support mission this Christmas
- Give: This Christmas, please consider making a special gift to support missionaries in India and other countries, where there is a great need for the Gospel to be shared with struggling communities.
- Pray: Please keep Sr Nirmala and many other dedicated missionaries like her in your prayers. Your prayers keep them strong as they continue to care for all God’s children in some of the world’s poorest and most troubled locations. Each day of Advent, through our Advent Calendar, you can pray for a different mission country, which you help to support through your donations to Missio.
- Fundraise: Lots of little actions can make one big change! Could you join together with your family, friends or community to fundraise for Missio? From bake sales to sponsored events, giving your time to raise money is an incredible gift to children around the world, and the missionaries making a vital difference to their lives. Get inspired here>>
- Share: We know times are difficult for families and households here in the UK too. One quick and easy way you can help us is to SHARE our message on social media. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Chennai’s children send a message of ‘Christmas Hope’
This Advent, we have been receiving updates from our partners in Chennai. The Marialaya project, run by Sisters of Don Bosco, is doing all it
Cyclone Michaung hits Chennai
As you will have read in our Christmas Appeal, children in Chennai already face many challenges including poverty and displacement. But we have just heard