Flocknote
It’s all a Gift
Dear Friends in Christ,
I am happy to report that approximately 200 families have joined me in making a pledge to this year’s Annual Appeal for Catholic Ministries. There is still time to participate if you have not yet done so. You can either grab a pledge brochure on one of our information tables, or you can visit www.archbalt.org to make a pledge online. On behalf of Archbishop Lori, I want to thank you for your generous support. Know that every gift makes a difference in supporting the charitable work of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
I am also grateful that Bishop Adam Parker will visit our parish on Saturday morning to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for us. At last year’s Confirmation, Bishop Parker commented on the vibrancy of our parish. In fact, it is this reality that has been attracting new parishioners to our parish. The vibrancy of our Confirmation program is thanks to the hard work of Fr. Felix Mmuoh, the Director of Confirmation, and Rick Urbanski, our Confirmation Coordinator. We were also blessed to have our Office Manager, Connie Savage, and Facilities Team member, Allison O’Neill, volunteer as adult small group leaders. In addition, two parents whose children participated in our program assisted as small group leaders, several other adults from our parish, and several peer ministers. Together, they formed a great team, as they gave generously of themselves for love of our Catholic faith and our candidates preparing for Confirmation.
I often speak about perspective as being one of the keys to a fruitful life. Do you see the glass half empty or half full? The deeper we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, through the sacramental life of the Church, the easier it is to see the glass half full, despite the challenges we all face in life. My prayer is that our newly Confirmed will seize upon the grace they have received through the Sacrament of Confirmation to use their gifts and talents for the greater glory of God. In Matthew Ch. 10:8 Jesus says, “Without cost you have received, without cost you are to give.” When we meditate on this hard saying, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of this teaching should lead to a spirit of gratitude and generosity. Hopefully, we can say in the end, “It’s all a gift.” There is no one better to teach us how to cultivate this way of life than the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit- Pray for us!


Dear Rev. Fr. Jesse
Greetings from Karachi.
Sorry for the delay in keeping in touch. The Karachi Outreach Projects 2024-25 are progressing at a good pace, and have kept me completely occupied for the past few months. Yesterday 7th Dec. I drove to Mirpurkhas. I left my home in Karachi at 6.00 am. and arrived in Mirpurkhas at 11:00 am. This is my second visit to the two Christian Villages, Bethleham village and Prem Nagar village, where I am coordinating and managing Christmas Hampers / Ration distribution on behalf of the Karachi Outreach Program. These villagers barely have any food to eat.
Under the Karachi Outreach Program 110 poor Christian families will now receive dry rations and toiletries for Christmas. Each hamper weighing a little over 30 Kilos. I am also distributing Christmas Hapmers to St. Michael's Girl's Orphanage in Mirpurkhas.
I will later drive to Sanghar village, where I am installing solar panels, lights and fans and have also provided chairs for St. Rita's village school and Church in Sanghar. They had no electricity.. and therefore no parish activities in the villages after sun set. Now, with solar panels, batteries, lights and fans they are starting adult Catechesis classes and sewing classes in the evenings for the Villagers and Christian women in the villages. Other Parish activities have also started in the evenings as a result.
I also plan to stop over at Sinjhoro, drug rehabilitation centre, before returning to Karachi on
Wed, 11th evening.This journey will cover a total of 5 days travelling by road and it's the first time I am driving alone by road. Well... not entirely true. I have full confidence that my Lord Jesus, will accompany me throughout this journey, as always.. I am staying at the Minor Seminary in Mirpurkhas which is located at a distance of approximately 2 hours drive from each village. So once again, I get to spend some quality time with the young Seminarians.The educational projects n Karachi covering admissions and school fees for Christian orphans and poor Christian children is also moving along well.
I will be sharing a photo update on the related activities shortly. Please keep me in your prayers.
Humbly in Christ
Jerome Andrades
Dear Rev. Fr. Jesse,
Greetings from Karachi
Once again, through the most generous funding, prayers and support received from St. Joseph’s Parish, Fullerton and the International Outreach Committee, we were able to reach out to 100 poor Christian families as well as 70 orphan girls at St. Michael’s Hostel, Mirpurkhas. The average family-size in these villages is 7-8 family-members.
I am sharing a heartwarming update on the recent ‘Christmas Food Relief Program’ managed under the Karachi Outreach program; successfully concluded at Bethlehem and Prem Nagar Christian Villages, where there is a scarcity of every basic necessity; no infrastructure and no electricity. The villagers live in extreme poverty and rarely get to eat a decent meal.
During my first visit to these two Christian villages; a list of Christian families was compiled, including the National I.D. number and Name of the head-of-each-household. Ration bags were distributed against this list, to ensure that every family in the village received a ration bag. Each bag weighed over 30 Kilos, (containing three-months supply of flour, rice, misc. lentils, beans, sugar, oil, lard, tea, noodles, misc. spices, juice-bottle and toiletries: shampoo, bathing soap, detergent and dish-washing soap etc.)
During my next visit to these villages on 7th to 9th December 2024; the food items and toiletries were purchased and packed in large-sacks at a wholesale market in Mirpurkhas. The rector of St. Bonaventure’s Minor Seminary, Fr. William Emmanuel and all eight Seminarians, willingly volunteered to accompany and assist me with the loading / unloading and distribution of the heavy ration bags.
It was a wonderful, heartwarming experience. The villagers were overjoyed and filled with hope and gratitude for God’s unfailing providence. They wore their best outfits for the occasion. It was also a spiritually enriching experience for the young Seminarians and for me; bringing our Lord Jesus to these poor, needy and desperate families; while beginning the Christmas season with joy, hope, genuine love and concern for our fellow Christians in dire need of assistance. We distributed 100 bags to poor Christian villagers and poor families in Mirpurkhas, and 10 ration bags to St. Michael’s Girls Orphanage, Mirpurkhas.
The overall distance covered by road, during each visit was approximately 750 kilometers, spread over a three-day journey, travelling through farms, villages, deserted fields and barren waste-lands on the outskirts of the city. Yet another moving experience for me, learning to place my trust in our Lord’s protecting and care, while driving alone and realizing how weak and vulnerable we are.
I have just returned home from another three-day road trip from 15th to 17th December 2024, visiting St. Rita's Village School in Sanghar (to close the Solar Power Project). I also visited Sinjhoro, Drug Rehabilitation Centre and Mirpurkhas Minor Seminary. I will share an update on the Solar Power Project in my next update.
I wish you and the parishioners and families of St. Joseph’s Parish, Fullerton a very happy and joyous Christmas Season and a New Year filled with God’s choicest blessings.
Humbly in Christ
Jerome Andrades
Message from Jerome Andrades - 1/4/2025
Dear Rev. Fr. Jesse and Parishioners of St. Joseph's Parish, Fullerton
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year, filled with God's grace, mercy and choicest blessings.
The initial survey of St. Rita’s school and surrounding village was conducted in Sep.’24. One has to travel by jeep, through difficult dirt roads to get to the village school. There is no electricity or running water, and without lights or fans, there was no activity after sun-set. In summer the classrooms were too hot to use. All the children (from grade 1 to grade 5) sat together in an open corridor, which also needed fans during summer. As a result, only 50 village children are currently studying in the school. Many remain at home. The limited school furniture is old, worn-out and broken. They have no cupboards and no proper tables for the teachers. The school hall is used for Sunday Mass with limited Church activities in the daytime.
The villagers live in mud and straw houses which they build with their bare hands; left wide open with no doors or windows; just open holes for ventilation. Their houses often collapse during the heavy monsoon rains, and are rebuilt with much hard labor, but no financial cost. I was invited to have lunch in the home of one of the villagers. I experienced immense peace and calm when I entered their humble home. One can sense God’s soothing and comforting presence among these people. Fr. Nazir John, the parish priest of St. Paul’s Parish, Sanghar, accompanied me on the visit and has been very supportive.
Utilizing funds from your most generous donation, a solar power system with batteries, fans, lights etc. was successfully installed in early Dec.’24. and new chairs purchased for the teachers. The class-rooms now having fans and lights were cleared and set up to accommodate the children indoors, giving the premises some appearance of what one may call a school. No fees are charged from the students. The school has only two dedicated teachers, from the local village who receive a measly stipend of appreciation from the local Archdiocese. (Sadly Rs.7000/-, equivalent to US$ 25 only per month.). In addition, three selfless volunteers from the local village work free of cost.
I visited again on 17th Dec.’24 and took gifts for the children, and Christmas cash-bonuses for the teachers. We had a small delightful Christmas party, with the children singing Christmas carols and dancing. Now, with solar power, the village school and local Church has come alive with evening activities, social events and adult catechesis etc.
I close with immense gratitude and thanks to Rev. Fr. Jesse, the Parishioners of St. Joseph’s Parish Fullerton and the International Outreach Committee for your continued generosity, concern and love for the less fortunate.
Humbly in Christ
Jerome Andrades,
Coordinator, Karachi Outreach program
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