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Mother Susan with her poor ones pilrims from Canada |
SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1973, ST. GREGORY'S CHARITY HOME HAS CARED FOR HUNDREDS OF SOCIETY'S MOST POOR. CONDITIONS REMAIN PRIMITIVE BY WESTERN STANDARDS. FOOD IS COOKED OUTDOORS OVER OPEN WOOD FIRES. OUTDOOR LATRINES ARE USED. THE YOUNG BOY HAVE BEEN HOUSED IN A CONGESTED GARAGE SINCE A TYPHOON DESTROYED THEIR COTTAGE. THE YOUNG GIRLS SLEEP AT NIGHT ON THE SCHOOLHOUSE FLOOR. UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, AND WITHOUT A CERTAIN SUPPLY OF CLEAN WATER, MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS FALL PREY TO ILLNESS AND INFECTION. ANNUAL MONSOONS IMPOSE ADDITIONAL HARDSHIPS. |
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| OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE FREQUENTLY STRAINED BEYOND OUR CURRENT RESOURCES AND ARE OFTENTIMES DIRE. IN EARLY 2005, SOME 15 NEW ORPHANS - TSUNAMI VICTIMS - ARRIVED. LATER THAT YEAR, 14 OF OUR CHILDREN REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION DUE TO A FEVER. FUNDING FOR BETTER, MORE MODERN AND SANITARY FACILITIES FOR OUR OVER 135 RESIDENTS IS URGENTLY NEEDED.
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INDIAN SOCIETY TRADITIONALLY DEVALUES WOMEN. ORPHANED, ABANDONED, WIDOWED OR ESCAPING SOME UNSPEAKABLE DIFFICULTY, THESE FIND THEIR WAY TO THE GATES OF ST. GREGORY'S. HERE THEY RECEIVE THE CARE WHICH MOTHER SUSAN PROVIDES - SHELTER, FOOD, CLOTHING, MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF LOVE.
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