Advent Lent thoughts - Mar Gregorios Balagram Yacharam

Dear all,

I had originally prepared this for my MGOCSM home unit. Then I felt
it might be good to share with my ICON friends.

Warm regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany, NY.
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Thoughts during the Lent of the Advent - Outreach endeavours in the
Church
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(Gathered from several ICON messages, thanks to Isaac Thomas,
Hyderabad, Mundukuzhy achen, Albany, Rajesh Varghese, Austin and many
others)

During this Season of the Lent of the Advent, let us
focus on some of the outreach programs undertaken by
the Church. The Lord asked us, the Church, to be "in"
the world. So we have to be involved and caring and
reach out into the world. The Church reaches out to
the society in many ways. Whatever we do for the
needy,helpless and sick, we are doing for our Savior
and Master Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:40). Jesus healed
the sick, fed the hungry, counseled the confused, and
cared for the needy. Apostles did the same. The Holy
Church guides the faithful in their footsteps.

Mar Gregorios Balagram,Yacharam in Andhra Pradesh.
Website: http://providenceusa.com/balagram/aboutus.htm
)
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This home cares for the male children of leprosy
patients. Currently this is the home for 110+
children.The home operates under the guidance of the
saintly Philip Rambachen (Read about the "Messiah of
the downtrodden" here -
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/306
) They are in the age group of 3 to 18. All their
expenses are
met by balagram.All the children who complete their
schooling in first class are sent to college or some
vocational courses.

Here is an ICON message about a student who joined
engineering college from the Balagram. Praise the
Lord!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/8561

Here are another couple of messages which speak about
the children being enrolled for higher studies. Also
there is a good transparency maintained in accounts by
Annual Reports etc(lack of transparency is something
the church is often blamed for)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/10982
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/13862

Also it operates a free eye hospital for the
poor.

How can you help?
(http://providenceusa.com/balagram/whatcanu.htm )
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By praying for this home.
By trying to go and spend time personally at the home
to know the needs, when you get a chance.
By trying to be in touch by calling up. (email may not
be an efficient option most of the time)
By organising a programme together as MGOCSM to help.
By donating with money if possible.

Read some related messages here:
Garbo Sunday: St.Gregorios balagram, Yacharam
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/12302

Balagram Yacharam Success Stories
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/12425
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/12439

AN OCCASION TO CELEBRATE AT BALAGRAM YACHARAM
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/14105

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/14564