The Deadly Tsunami and After
One of the major tragedies faced by our people in the recent times was the deadly Tsunami and we had appealed to our friends and benefactors to respond immediately and concretely to help the victims of this disaster. Many people have been highly supportive, responding to our request for assistance. The rehabilitation work was entrusted to FidesIndia, the social service wing of our province. Immediate relief measures were extended such as - repairing of houses, clothes for the needy, repairing of nets and boats, note books and uniforms for school children.
Three Rest/Watch Houses and one Store House at Kadiapatnam, Nagercoil
After
further study of the situation it was decided to concentrate on one area for the
rehabilitation services. In consultation with the diocese of Kottar we chose the
parish of Kadiapatnam, about 15 kms. away from Nagercoil, for our action-programme.
To assist the people on a long term and permanent basis we have constructed
three Houses and one storage House. The entire village required community
centres for their many activities. They had lost all such centres as they were
located on the banks. They call these centres Rest houses or Watch-houses. The
fishermen wait in these houses watching the sea, repairing the nets and boats,
praying together before they leave for fishing and the others wait on them here
praying. We have built three such Houses in three streets. We have also built a
Fish storing house in another street. These houses will serve the entire
community and be a lasting assistance for them.
Blessing and Inauguration
On 18 September
2005 our Provincial, Fr. Jose Parappillil MSFS inaugurated and
dedicated these four 
houses to the living memory of the people who lost their
lives as well as for the future activities and gatherings of the people in these
areas. The people were extremely touched by this generosity and concern for
them. No other agency so far has undertaken such a project in that area. These
are large halls and surely would prove to be a centre and locus of their
village-living and collective- work.
We are also planning to construct a few private houses for those who lost everything but depend on the availability of more funds. At the same time we have already initiated adopting some children for education from these areas. It is felt that such assistance would have more lasting bearing on the growth of their life than other helps of infra-structure involving construction. FidesIndia is working on this programme under the scheme of Distance-Education. I appeal to all our confreres, benefactors and friends to continue to be in the service of these brethren. Your contributions would help us to come to the assistance of these hapless victims in a more substantial manner. For more details contact msfsmys@dataone.in
