Christu Nivas, Nallajerala, Andhra Pradesh

Contact Details
Christu Nivas
Nallajerala P.O.
West Godavari District
Andhra Pradesh
INDIA 534 112
Tel.: (+91) (0)8818-277 225, 277 964

 
Statistics
Year of Foundation: 1982
Mission:                     Pastoral Ministry
                                   Educational Apostolate
                                   Village Development Projects
                                   Home Care for the Physically Challenged

Inception and Development
Christu Nivas at Nallajerala in the diocese of Eluru was the second mission taken up by the Claretians in India. Of the six missionaries who received the mission cross from Rev. Fr. Dirnberger on 15 August 1981, three priests, viz., Frs. Joseph Madhavath, Peter Puthenkandam and Joseph Perumaparampil reached the diocese of Eluru by the end of August in the same year.

On 7 January 1982, Rt. Rev. John Mulagada, the Bishop of Eluru entrusted the whole of Nallajerla mandal for the pastoral care to the Claretians. On 24 August in the same year the parish of Nallajerla was erected by joining four substations of the parish of Chebrole – Jegannathapuram, Pullelapadu, Musalagunta and Dubacherla; three substations of the parish of Yernagudem – Ananthapally, Chodavaram and Telikicherla; two substations of the parish of Gauravaram (Koyyalagudem) – Subadrapalem and Pothuneedipalem and one substation from the Parish of Thadepalligudem – Prkasaraopalem

Pastoral Ministry
Today, Nallajerla parish consists of 14 villages with 510 catholic families. In order to strengthen the faith of the people and to be effective in our mission, at present there are seven village chapels. The main parish Church at Nallajerla was blessed and inaugurated on April 20, 2005.

The main involvement of the parish is in the areas of evangelization and education. The missionaries also take great care in working together with the leaders of other churches, in the ministry of the proclamation of the Word. There has been positive response and sufficient co-operation from the part of the people in all these programmes. A new residence was constructed with the help of the Province of Germany was opened by Fr. Georg Hopf, Provincial Econome of the Province of Germany on 12 February2001.

The Missionary efforts of the Claretians were strengthened with the arrival of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians on 30 March 1985 to collaborate in the evangelical and development works in the region.

Through various regular means like celebration of Holy Masses, Prayer meetings, Marian Devotions, Catechism classes, Basic Christian Community Programs, the spiritual life of the people are enhanced.

Educational Apostolate
On June 24, 1985 St Claret Kindergarten was opened and began functioning in a thatched shed. On 24 October, on the feast day of St Claret, the newly constructed school building for the St Claret English Medium School was opened. Today the school is a center for academic excellence with classes from I to X. A new block was constructed and it was blessed and inaugurated on 15 December 2000. There are also three Catholic elementary schools under the management of the Parish.

Home Care for the Physically Challenged
In the year 2000 Fr. John Payikatt undertook a ministry to take care of the many physically challenged people, elderly and children alike, in the locality. He wished to give a more authentic and meaningful witness to Christ by extending a helping hand to the underprivileged and less productive people of the society. There are 40 children who benefit from the project now. The initiative includes distribution of free wheel chair, medical care and awareness programs etc. The modus operandi is a two-way counseling: making the children accept their deficiency and make the parents value their children as they are. The plan of the centre is to reintegrate these children by training them in some life skills.