The foundation stone of St. Joseph’s Orphanage, Lakshmipur, was blessed by His Grace Archbishop Lawrence Subrato Howlader, CSC, and laid by Mr. Jude V. Gomez, President of the Mary Lou Kalla Foundation Inc., on January 7, 2025. This event marked a significant milestone for the local community.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage LakshmipurFoundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage Lakshmipur

The guests arrived at St. Joseph’s Parish in the morning, where they joined the children and parishioners for a light snack. During the gathering, Archbishop Howlader addressed the attendees, emphasizing the importance of the initiative. He expressed his concern over the exploitation of vulnerable children, particularly in the hill tracts, where many are forcibly taken to madrassas and subjected to abuse. The diocese has long been working to rescue these children and is now focused on providing them with a safe and nurturing home.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage Lakshmipur

Archbishop Howlader extended his heartfelt thanks to Mr. Jude Gomez for his generous support in helping establish this vital project. Mr. Gomez, in turn, shared his personal story and expressed his pride in contributing to the cause. He founded the Mary Lou Kalla Foundation in honor of Mary Lou, a lady who had offered him shelter when he first moved to the United States for education fifty years ago. Reflecting on this, Mr. Gomez stated that the orphanage project, which aims to provide shelter for orphaned children, holds special significance for him as it mirrors the assistance he once received.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage LakshmipurFoundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage Lakshmipur

Currently, the orphaned children are being temporarily housed on the parish campus, within the vacant Sisters’ House. The existing shelter has the capacity to accommodate only 15 children. The new facility, once completed, will feature a larger building capable of housing up to 50 children. Archbishop Howlader outlined plans to temporarily house the boys in Laksham, while the new facility will initially accommodate the girls. Once the new facility is constructed and the girls are settled, the next phase of the project will involve building a similar structure on the opposite side of the campus to accommodate the boys. The Archbishop also extended an invitation to the LHC sister congregation to take responsibility for managing the orphanage and its facilities.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage LakshmipurFoundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage Lakshmipur

The new orphanage will be located adjacent to St. Joseph’s School, which is situated some distance from the parish. This project represents a crucial step in ensuring a safer and brighter future for the orphaned and vulnerable children of the community.

Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony of St. Joseph's Orphanage Lakshmipur

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