The Church Community in Filderstadt and MAHER :
In spring 2003, the former parish priest of the church community Liebfrauen in Filderstadt – Germany Father Monsigniore Kilian Nuß met one of the founders of MAHER , Father Prof. Francis D´Sa at a conference in Pune , India .
Back in Filderstadt, Father Kilian reported about the exciting project of MAHER to the parishioners of the Liebfrauen Church and they decided immediately to support the MAHER Project.
Since that time, the community of Liebfrauen has been sending substantial donations to MAHER. These donations are the fruit of the frequent events organized by the Filderstadt Parish in favour of MAHER .
Contacts between MAHER and Filderstadt deepened through many mutual visits. So it was not surprising that a Trust was founded on November 3 rd 2007 in the presence of Sr. Lucy and Fr. Francis to support MAHER on an official and stable basis.
The Trust is called “Förderverein für MAHER e.V.” and is registered under the federal rules in Filderstadt.
The church community of Liebfrauen Filderstadt is located close to the city of Stuttgart in the federal state Baden-Württemberg in the south of Germany .
For more information please contact the Liebfrauen website www.klbp.de/Förderverein
Report on Jharkhand :
Maher's dream to expand to other areas has come to fruition and a new home has been established in the state of Jharkhand in North India . The inauguration of the house in the town of Ranchi took place on 1 st November with the local Sarpanch, Mr Anil Lakra, as the chief guest and 100 local people in attendance. Jharkhand is an area of extreme poverty where the people are mainly illiterate. There are the associated problems of unemployment, malnourishment and illness as a result of this.
There are currently 19 children, 3 women and 2 Maher staff in the Ranchi house. The children are attending the local Hindi medium school. The Maher principles of accepting all religions and castes have been followed when accepting the women and children into the community.
Initially the work will revolve around the Maher house and helping the people within the town of Ranchi . There are a number of slum areas within the town and the staff have visited these to determine what help is needed. The staff has also visited the local hospitals and doctors to introduce themselves so that they can gain access to medical help for Maher residents when needed. Once Maher has gained acceptance within Ranchi the work will be expanded to the local villages.
This is one small step towards Maher's goal of expansion to other areas of India to help more women and children develop and gain independence.
Thank you dear friends for this added joy of belonging to all of you, an universal family!
We Love you
Maher - Jharkhand
Report on the Ratnagiri Project:
Through consistent hard work and commitment, Maher has recently set up its new care home in Ratnagiri ( Maharashtra ). The house was established on the 9 th of December, 2008, in the presence of Sister Lucy Kurien (the Founder- Director of Maher), Ms. Heera (Director, women and children), Ms. Shirley Antony (In charge, production unit), other staff members and volunteers.
Ratnagiri was chosen as a location for the new care home because of the poverty and illiteracy that is widespread there. Also, many women have been coming from Ratnagiri to seek refuge in Maher in the recent years.
There are currently three staff members, who are looking after the care home in Ratnagiri. It is providing shelter to two housemothers and three children at present, and there's space for many more.
Right now, the focus in on spreading word about the house at Ratnagiri, so that people in need can approach Maher for help. The staff is determined to visit the areas around the house, and get familiar to the surroundings as soon as possible.
There are schools, markets and hospitals around the house, to provide basic facilities to the children and women who take shelter in Maher's Ratnagiri house.
We look forward to take the mission of Maher further, by penetrating more districts, and reaching out to more people in need.
This is just a single step in the miles that lie ahead of us. We thank you for your constant support and encouragement in our journey.
Kindly note the telephone number and the E-Mail ID of Ratnagiri: 9011086136/
maherratnagiri@gmail.com
Gratefully
Sr. Lucy and Maher Family
BACK HOME!
Dear Friends!
Our return to India is like the song of the children at Maher” East or West, Maher is the best”. It’s truly been a home coming after the gap of two months! The arrival at the dawn of 7th morning was a beautiful welcome where all our children and staff lined with placards and flowers to welcome us, in spite of the rain! It was followed by “Thanks giving prayer service” where all prayed for the safe return and the fruitfulness of the trip to USA and the Europe. I was so touched and the tears of joy flowed down at the sight of meeting them all!
Each child and the house mother and the staff received a small gift and a chocolate, that is so natural to any mother to carry with love despite of luggage constrains! The joy and the smiles on the faces all of them made us feel so bonded with a deep sense of family!
I want to “Thank each one of you” for all that you have been to us during these days! Your love, dedication, hard work enabled us to open up all the more the sense of universality and oneness. It’s been a period of retreat, wherein my heart if filled with gratitude! I have come back enriched and counting my blessings! I cannot find words enough to express all that I feel and want to say! May you be blessed and rewarded richly for all the love that you share and for the life you give to all at Maher!
May the blessings of all our women and children be with you!
Love and Blessings
Sr. Lucy Kurien
