Clean Drinking Water Project:
St. Vincent Pallotti Purified Drinking Water Project, Kalaikulam
The parishioners of St. Michael’s parish come from 19 villages namely, Kalaikulam, Siramam, Orumaniyenthal, Ettiyakudi, Kurunthangudi, Muduthanai, Vellakkudi, Vannikkudi, Marungur, Sirumal, Silukkapatti, Marathur, Pookkulam, Kottakkaadu, Rakkinarkottai, Paanavayal, Viruthanvayal, Kattanur and Aalangudi. There are 250 Catholic families in these villages. These Catholic families and other thousands of families belonging to other faiths had grate difficulties to have an access to clean, pure and safe drinking water. They would fetch the muddy water from the ponds nearby and use a nut called theththangkottai and scrub it against the wall of the container containing the muddy water and leave it to distill itself during the night and sieve it in the morning and use it as their only drinking water. Because of this unclean water many people of this area were contracting many water-born diseases. Looking at the pathetic and miserable situation of thousands of people living in this area Rev. Fr. Dr. Selvaraj Antonisamy SAC was moved with compassion to do something for this unfortunate people. He always believes in Divine Providence. With the grace of God and with the help of some generous benefactors from Taiwan Father Selva was able to establish a Water Purification Plant in Kalaikulam. Thousands of families from more than 25 villages around St. Vincent Pallotti Illam in Kalaiklam are benefitting from this project on a regular basis from 10.01.2020. The people of this area are ever grateful to Fr. Solomon Raj Titus SAC (The Superior of the Pallottine Mission in Taiwan), Mrs. Marie Lin and many other generous benefactors in Taiwan.
Bl. Richard Henkes Tailoring Centre, Kalaikulam
Blessed Richard Henkes Tailoring Center, Kalaikulam
St. Michael’s parish in the diocese of Sivagangai, has altogether 19 villages namely, Kalaikulam, Siramam, Orumaniyenthal, Ettiyakudi, Kurunthangudi, Muduthanai, Vellakkudi, Vannikkudi, Marungur, Sirumal, Silukkapatti, Marathur, Pookkulam, Kttakkaadu, Rakkinarkottai, Paanavayal, Viruthanvayal, Kattanur and Aalangudi. There are 250 Catholic families in this parish. Besides Catholic families there are also thousands of families belonging to other faith. The main occupation of the people living in this area is agriculture. However, because of the unpromising seasonal rain in this area, the agriculture often suffers and fails. Most of the people are unemployed, very specially the widows and women of this area and they find very difficult to earn their daily bread and look after their children. Looking at the miserable situation of the unemployed women and widows of this area Fr. Selva SAC was moved with compassion to do something for these unfortunate women and widows so that these women would stand on their own foot and support their families. He always believes in Divine Providence. With the help of some generous Pallottine Fathers, Brothers and Lay Associates from Germany, Switzerland and Taiwan he began Blessed Richard Henkes Tailoring Center for the empowerment of women and widows of this area on 12.09.2022. This tailoring center can give an employment opportunity for 100 women and widows. Presently some 30 women and widows are employed in this center.
