Santosh Kumar is a young priest who lives in the dense jungles of India, and who has been supported thanks to the generosity of our benefactors. This young man lives in a remote diocese in India, in the Diocese of Port Blair, which has hundreds of islands and is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean. He lives on one of these islands and was ordained a priest recently, on May 12.
His whole history is a true sign of God’s Providence. Kumar’s father was seriously ill, and he, not knowing what to do, prayed fervently for his healing:
“I had never thought of being a priest, but then my father fell ill with cancer.
I prayed to God and my life began to change”.
Not only was his father healed, but this young man would eventually discover his own vocation through prayer. He entered the seminary, was ordained a deacon and, since May 12, he has been one of the priests of the Diocese of Port Blair. In this region, the faithful have to walk 6 km through dangerous jungles to participate in Sunday Mass. The devotion of these people, who face fear moved by the thirst for the Eucharist and prayer, is something wonderful and inspiring.
Father Kumar describes the difficulty of reaching these isolated communities: “It is a struggle to access remote areas and have to cross the jungle, but we think of the people who live in these places and who participate in Mass. That gives us the strength to continue. When we go to these chapels we never find them empty: there is a thirst for the Eucharist and prayer.”
Everything in the life of this young man seems to be marked by the help of ACN. His studies as a seminarian were supported by benefactors. His subsistence as a priest is being ensured by the Mass Stipends that our dear benefactors ask to celebrate. Even the motorcycle on which he ventures on the dangerous journeys through the jungle, where the priestly presence is so awaited and necessary, was offered by ACN to his diocese.
Ask the neediest priests to celebrate Masses:
Father Kumar, whose vocation was born after a period of personal anguish due to his father’s illness, was attracted to the priestly ministry and became the first seminarian in the vast Diocese of Port Blair to receive help from the benefactors of ACN for his formation: “In my diocese there are few priests, but observing how they work for the benefit of the population, I discovered the thirst for Christ in people and their need for the Mass and the other sacraments. Thank you to ACN and all the benefactors for the support they have given me on my path to the priesthood.”
It can support thousands of priests, like Father Kumar, through the Mass Stipends. With your donation to the celebration of Masses, you are not only supporting the livelihoods of these men dedicated to God and his people, but also the entire community, and ensuring that the light of faith reaches the most remote regions, where the presence of the Church is a vital source of hope and comfort.
For thousands of priests around the world, Mass Stipends are the only source of livelihood they have. These priests, many of whom risk their lives every day just for professing their faith, are deeply grateful for the generosity of the benefactors and consider it a great honor to celebrate Masses for their intentions. Your generosity makes all the difference. Together, we can ensure that the message of God’s love continues to reach where it is needed most.
