By Sudar Oli –
Konanankuppam (Tamil Nadu): The Church has always been a place of comfort and peace to many people in the world. All have needs but a human soul is satisfied when it reaches the needy as Mother Mary hastened to help her cousin Elizabeth. Mother Mary continues her mission of reaching out to the poor children men and women.
The apparitions of Mother Mary are always to the innocent and simple people who lived like her, who believed like her.
Konanankuppam a small village situated in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu. The small hamlet is made known to the world by the famous Italian priest Fr. Beschi, popularly known as Veeramamunivar, made known the glory of Our Lady of Periyanayagi, dressed in Saree, represents the Tamil culture and its heritage.
COVID-19 outbreak hit badly the lives of many daily laborers. Many families have survived with the help received from lots of Good Samaritans of society. Though the doors and gates of the Church were closed, the hearts of people were open to reach out to the poor and the starving during this pandemic, said Fr Devasagayaraj M. Zackarias, the rector of the shrine.
The lockdown period started on March 25, Fr. Zackarias immediately thought of his parishioners especially the senior citizens who sit at the entrance of the shrine for alms.
The villagers who depend upon their daily wage for food and other expenses found it difficult to manage the situation. The situation of the elders is worse as they depend upon others for their daily meals. Hence, the idea of a community kitchen was inspired to provide food for the senior citizens at least one meal a day. The shrine started with 50 people and today 80 people are benefitting from this scheme.
“We started this program on April 20, with no money,” added Fr Zackarias.
“We asked for donations, and on the first day, people came forward and started giving donations. Until today, we can run the community kitchen without any financial constraint,” said Fr. Olil Kumar, assistant parish priest.
Deacon Jeyabalan, Antonyraj, catechist, Sagayaraj, driver, Clement, volunteer, Church staff—Selvi, Vijaya, Sagaya Mary, Mrs. Antoniammal, Reginamary, and security man, Savarinathan are part of the team.
“We also thank the Legion of Mary from Konankuppam who came forward to help in cooking the meals,” said Fr. Kumar.
At present, the lunch is served for 30 poor widows and widowers and the senior citizens. The local people give in-kind and cash. Some gave vegetables grown in their gardens. Some gave rice. The meat shop owner sometimes provided chicken.
The local people as well as the people from different places including other states seeing the good work done send money, such as some for the memorial days as well as for their wedding anniversaries and birthdays.
The local legion of Mary members and the youth helped cooking during the full lockdown days.
“Our youth who are working in the restaurants sponsored a one-day meal by providing paratha, chicken curry and biryani. The people living in nearby towns also visited and gave their donations as well as in-kind,” said Fr Kumar.
Now lunch is served in carriers.
“We used to serve food on their plates. But they bring different kinds of plates. Sometimes to receive dhal curry they brought plastic water bottles. Some people who did not have plates used to bring paper plates. Then we thought that meals should be served with dignity,” explained Fr Zackarias, the rector of the shrine.
The shrine bought carriers. “We fill the carrier with rice dhal curry and vegetables or meat and distribute them to the poor. They keep the rice also for the supper. Some keep the leftover rice for the following morning. They wash the carriers and bring them back,” said Fr Zackarias, the rector of the shrine.
“We were surprised by the generosity of the people who made this program a great success. We were able to complete 200 days just because of them. For two months, we also provided breakfast to the poor children,” he added.
Relief materials were given not only to the parish people but also to the poor people in the nearby villages and especially to the gypsies and cleaning workers in the nearby town. There were 3880 meals are served in 200 days.
Quoting Pope Francis, Fr Zackarias, said, “We have to use our talents for others without fearing for there is no use if we do not use our talents for doing good.”