OUR NEW MISSION IN KOTBA (INDIA)

New Servants of Mary mission in northern India: a glimmer of hope 

We, Molly, Jomol and Kavitha, Sisters Servants of Mary, are sent to the north of India, in the state of Chhattisgarh, to form a new Community, in Mission among the poor and the poorest. 

We are all involved in a mission of education at the diocesan St. Joseph's English Medium School, known as a mission school. We have classes from nursery to sixth standard, and English is the language of instruction. The school upgrades every year and currently has 210 pupils. Nearly 90% of them belong to different ethnic groups; around 70% of the children are Catholics. We welcome children from all backgrounds, regardless of caste, creed or religion. We try to educate them with a holistic approach. We train them with kindness but firmness, according to Father Cestac's vision. We support their overall development.

The people here are very simple and welcoming. Although the official language is Hindi, the locals speak their own mother tongue. As they belong to tribal groups, they are imbued with a certain discipline and rhythm of life. Music and dance are part of their lives, and they celebrate and enjoy life. They are farmers, and harvests are seasonal. The main crop is rice. It is the staple food and sole source of income for the majority of the population.

Our parish has around 450 Catholic families spread over 18 villages within a radius of 18 to 20 km. It is not possible to reach them other than by two-wheeler or car.  With the parish priest, we regularly visit families and distribute communion to the sick and elderly. This is our first experience in the North, so we're still learning. We need to understand their culture, their way of life, their language, and so on. We're very happy to be working for and with them.