Jul 27th, 2025: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
Prayerful greetings from the CMI Madagascar Mission!
My name is Fr. Joy Kalliyath, and I am a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), a Catholic religious congregation founded in India. I have been serving in the Diocese of Morondava, Madagascar for the past 15 years.
First and foremost, I would like to sincerely thank the pastor of this parish, Fr. Seejo, for kindly allowing me to introduce our mission activities to you.
The Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) was founded by St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who was canonized in November 2014. Inspired by his missionary zeal, our congregation has extended its service beyond India to some of the most remote and impoverished regions of Africa. Since 1981, we have been actively involved in missionary work in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and other African countries.
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has a population of over 30 million, of which approximately 9 million are Christians. When I first arrived as a missionary, I had to learn Malagasy, the national language, and French, which is also widely spoken.
I was assigned to a countryside parish that has more than 20 station churches. The people are deeply committed to their faith, and the liturgy is vibrant and full of life. However, many of these station churches are in remote areas without proper roads, making access extremely difficult. Often, we have to walk several kilometers—sometimes through forests and muddy terrain—to reach these communities. Even today, some villages have no electricity or power.
In several places, the faithful gather under large trees to celebrate Mass and other sacraments. During the rainy season, this becomes nearly impossible due to the lack of proper church buildings.
Despite these challenges, the deep faith and enthusiasm of the people remove all fatigue as I walk long distances to celebrate Sunday Mass with them.
The livelihood of the people is mainly agricultural, and the crops are heavily dependent on seasonal rainfall. A lack of rain often leads to crop failure, which brings about poverty and malnutrition—especially among children and the elderly.
When I first arrived, there were no doctors or health clinics in the village or nearby areas. As a result, many people—especially children—died due to the lack of access to basic medical care. In response, I took the initiative to start a health clinic to help prevent infant mortality and support pregnant women. We now provide free or subsidized medicine for children and those who cannot afford treatment. This clinic is doing well, and people travel from neighboring villages when they are sick. It has brought immense relief and has significantly reduced infant and adult mortality. The clinic now helps protect the local population from diseases such as intestinal infections, malaria, typhoid, whooping cough, diarrhea, and more.
Another major challenge is the lack of access to clean drinking water. Even I have to go a mile to collect water from a spring. Most villagers still lack access to clean water, which contributes to the spread of disease and poor health conditions.
Education is another pressing concern. Most children do not attend school because there are no schools nearby, and many parents cannot afford tuition.
In response, two years ago, we began offering non-formal education to children in villages where there are no schools. Currently, we serve over 800 children, providing them with free lunch and tuition.
Through these various programs, we are working to transform these communities spiritually, physically, emotionally, and culturally.
To ensure the continuity of our mission, we have also begun promoting local vocations. Currently, 14 of our priests serve in five parishes across three dioceses in Madagascar. We now have 19 seminarians in formation for the priesthood. However, more young men are interested in joining, and we lack the space and resources to accommodate them. Sponsoring a seminarian is one meaningful way you can support our mission.
I will be available after Mass if you would like to learn more about sponsoring a seminarian in Madagascar.
The village communities continue to grow because of the dedicated work of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. We ask for your prayerful support and financial contribution to help us continue these vital ministries and transform lives.
Thank you for your generous support and continued prayers for our mission in Madagascar. Envelopes have been placed in your pews; you may use them to leave your donation in the collection basket.
May God bless you abundantly.