Dear All,

St. Gregorios Dayabhavan (near Bangalore), a Home for the uninfected children of
AIDS patients, shall be operational from June 15, 2003, the day of the 155th
birth anniversary of its patron saint; Parumala Thirumeni.

Blessing and formal inauguration of the Dayabhavan's operations will be done by
HG Dr. Yacoob Mar Iranios (Metropolitan for the See of Chennai) in a Public
Function scheduled for 4 PM on that day. And, the Home will start with the
already admitted six children, while more and more applications are pouring in.
But the present newly completed building (being small) can accommodate a
maximum of only ten children.

However, the Phase 1 construction, planned to complete in one year's time from
now, to have around 100 children, itself requires a cash in flow in the tune of
3 million Indian Rupees. Further, the centre has a mission to cater to 500
children on its final completion. The main source of income for the Project is
donations & sponsorships from well wishers. Your donation cheques/DDs can be
drawn in favor of Very Rev. KI Philip Ramban but Dollar Cheques/DDs need to be
in favor of Orthodox Church Mission Society (payable preferably in Kerala). In
both cases the Cheques, DDs etc can be couriered to the below given address as
well as the contact for any other queries

Rev. Fr. Jinesh K. Varkey
Manager,
St. Gregorios Dayabhavan
Bhaktharahalli Post
Kunigal (Via), TUMKUR Dist.
Karnataka, Pin: 572 120
Ph. (+91 8132) 290075
email: dayabhavan@ yahoo.co.in

More than any thing, may I urge the members of this forum to pray for
Dayabhavan, being a very challenging project in all respects. It can undoubtedly
be seen as a symbol of the ' new vision ' of our Church and a true Christian
response to one of the current concerns of India.

In Christian Fellowship,

John G. Attupuram
Bangalore-84

PS : An article posted earlier in this form ([IOIF] Digest Number 708) on
Dayabhavn is appended here for your
===========================================================================

In DIGEST no. 704 Very Re. Mundukuzhy Achan had enquired about the progress
of the Centre for the children of AIDS patients that is coming up in a
town near Bangalore.

First of all let me tell you that it is not a centre to treat AIDS patients.
Whereas it is a home for the children of AIDS patients, who do not have
AIDS. When these children live with their parents, they are considered as
untouchables . Socially they are boycotted. So our Mission Board thought
that we should do something for them and our Episcopal Synod had given
permission to start the home for these children.
H.G.Mar Osthathios has entrusted the work with Very Rev. K.I.Philip Remban
to find a suitable place for the project and after a search 9.5 acres of
land was located at place 70 kms away from Bangalore city . It belongs to a
member of Orthodox Church and he had happily agreed to give it to the
project at a very low price. The land is a well developed farm. As part
payment Rs. 9 Lakhs has been already paid and a small building has been
already constructed for the office to function and for Rembachan to stay.
Arrangements were made to lay the foundation stone for the main building
when H.H. The Catholica Bava Thirumeni was to visit Bangalore on Dec. 12th .
Unfortunately, due to the developments in Kerala , Bava Thirumeni's Bangalore
visit was to be cancelled . So the foundation stone laying programme is
postponed to Jan. 16, 2003. H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios will lay the
foundation stone on Jan. 16, 2003 at 4.00 p.m.
The address to which the donations are to be sent is given below.

H.G.Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios
Mission Training Centre
Pulimoodu,Mavelikara,Aleppy Dist, Kerala

If interested in making donations,Cheques / Drafts may be drawn in favor of St.
Gregorios Daya Bhavan

Wish you all a Blessed New Year.

T.V.Varghese, Bangalore