Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
visits Maynooth

Kandhamal has been in the news for the slaughter and persecution of the Christians at Christmas 2007 and again in the summer of 2008. On 21 October 2010, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in Northern India, Most Reverend Raphael Cheenath SVD visited Maynooth College and was welcomed by the President, Monsignor Hugh Connolly.

Archbishop Cheenath spoke of his outcast people in the forest heartland of Orissa, where 650,000 people live, and are among the poorest in India. During the communal violence, 93 were killed, thousands of homes and 350 churches were destroyed, making thousands refugees in their homeland.

Trócaire and Concern are assisting, and the diocese has already reconstructed over 2,000 houses. Problems of healthcare, human trafficking, education and justice are some of the areas where help is needed.

Maynooth has had a long tradition of friendship with India. In 1838 the Maynooth Mission to India was established when Rev Patrick J Carew, a member of the College staff, went as a missionary bishop to Bengal.  Rev John Fennelly was Bursar in the College, and followed Carew, and on 24 April 1841 was installed as Bishop of Madras.  John died in 1868, and his brother Stephen Fennelly succeeded him on 1 March 1868 as Bishop of Madras.  Stephen died in 1880. In 1995 the Maynooth Mission Outreach was established to give students the opportunity to serve in mission countries during their summer months. Calcutta in India has had students every summer since then.

If you would like to be part of the solution, you can contact Archbishop Cheenath at the following address:
Most Rev Raphael Cheenath SVD
Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
9/16 Satyanagar, Bhubaneswar
Odisha - 751007
India

If you would like to contribute:
The Cuttack Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation
A/c Number: 12320100008554
SWIFCODE: FDRLIN BB IBD