And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” - (Matt. 16:18)
“నీవు పేతురువు, ఈ రాతిపైన నా సంఘాన్ని నిర్మిస్తాను. నరక శక్తులు దానిని జయించలేవు.” – (మత్తయి 16:18)
Ravipadu Parish, The Catholic Diocese of Guntur - India.
Ravipadu is one of the three biggest parishes in the diocese of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. In India the oldest Catholicism is found in Kerala in the first century with the arrival of St. Thomas. But in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Catholic faith found its roots in between 1710-1720. The people of the village have received the faith of Christianity in 18th century. Since then they live and lead their lives in the faith of Christianity.
Our Old Immaculate Conception Church
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was built before 140 years. It only can accommodate 250 people in the Church.
As the community is growing year after year with the young men and women embrace the religious life and priesthood, the parish church is not enough for the community to participate in the Holy Eucharist and other sacraments.
Therefore, the construction of the Church to accommodate the people of the parish is inevitable and awaited.
There are almost 36 priests and more than 50 Nuns from this village alone. There are many more priests and nuns from other villages of this community.
Since the community is big and the church cannot accommodate all the people, many of them stand in an open area. Very often there is a problem for them to participate in the celebration of the sacraments, due to rain or hot sun outside the Church.
It is the wish of the people that they have the Church in their village that can accommodate all the people and enable them to participate in the celebration of the sacraments.
So, there is an easy access and approachability to God. People also feel that the Church is the symbol of the presence of God.
Not only Catholics but also the people who belong to other religions do stop and look at God and make a silent prayer.
This gives them an opportunity to think about God.
Hence, we humbly request your good self and consideration to give us financial aid to build a Church at this parish for which we will be ever grateful to you.
Mission Appeal
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I am Fr. Rayanna Pudota, a missionary priest from the Diocese of Guntur in India. First of all, I would like to sincerely thank Most Reverend Joseph Brennan, Bishop of Fresno, Very Reverend Salvador Gonzalez, Vicar General, and Reverend Father Jorge Robles, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, for giving me this opportunity to share with you a mission that is very close to my heart—my home village of Ravipadu.
Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of ChristCorpus Christi-the Word of God invites us to reflect deeply on the gift of the Eucharist. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people of Israel how God fed them with manna in the desert bread from heaven-so that they might learn that "not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. " God nourished His people, not only physically, but spiritually.
And in the Gospel, Jesus speaks clearly: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven... whoever eats this bread will live forever." Jesus gives Himself to us completely in the Eucharist. He becomes our nourishment, our strength, our hope.
My brothers and sisters, today's feast reminds us that the Eucharist is not only something we receive it is also something we are called to live. When we receive the Body of Christ, we are called to become the Body of Christ for others. With this in mind, I would like to share with you the story of our brothers and sisters in Ravipadu, in the Diocese of Guntur, India. Though they live far away, they are part of the same Body of Christ that we celebrate today.
Ravipadu is one of the largest parishes in our diocese, with more than 3,000 faithful Catholics. Our faith has deep rootsgoing back to the early centuries of Christianity in India, and our village has kept that faith alive for generations. But the church we have today was built over 140 years ago, and it can hold only about 250 people. Every Sunday, and on every feast day, the majority of the faithful must stand outside-in the hot sun or in the rain just to participate in the Eucharist.
Imagine this: people longing to receive the Body of Christ, yet having no proper space to gather, no shelter to pray, no place to fully experience the beauty of the Eucharist we celebrate today. Our people are poor in material things, but rich in faith. Many struggle daily for their basic needs. Yet they come to Mass with devotion, with joy, and with a deep hunger not only for food, but for the Bread of Life.
In our village, the church is not just a building. It is the heart of the community. It is the place where people encounter Jesus, where families gather, where children learn the faith, and where even people of other religions come quietly to pray.
My dear brothers and sisters, today's feast tells us that we are one Body in Christ. And if we are truly one Body, then the needs of our brothers and sisters become our own. Just as God provided manna in the desert, today He continues to provide often through the generosity of His people.
We have begun building a new church in Ravipadu with great sacrifice from our local community. But we cannot complete it alone. Today, I humbly invite you to be part of this mission to help build a house where thousands can gather to receive the Eucharist with dignity. Your support will help create a sacred space where Christ will be present in the Blessed Sacrament, where future generations will come to know Him, love Him, and receive Him.
Today, we will take up a second collection for this mission appeal. I kindly ask you to give as generously as you can. Your gift is not just a donation—it is an act of faith, a sharing in the Body of Christ, and a way of bringing the Eucharist to others. If you give a dollar, I will dance with joy! If you give $50, I will climb over the church with excitement! And if you give $100, I promise-I will fly like an angel of God! But truly, whatever you give, give from your heart, and God will bless you abundantly.
Before I conclude, I invite you to see this mission for yourself. Please visit: www.icccravipadu.org to view pictures and videos of the construction. You will see the faith, hope, and sacrifice of the people
you are helping. May the Body and Blood of Christ, which we receive today, unite us more deeply in love and generosity. And may God bless you for your kindness and support. Amen.
Support the New Church Construction
We use Givebutter, an all-in-one online fundraising platform that helps Catholic churches raise funds for important projects such as church construction. Through this system, we are able to securely receive donations, manage donor relationships, and organize fundraising events — all in one place.
With humility and hope, we respectfully ask for your kind consideration and financial support to help us build a church for our parish community. Your generosity would make a lasting impact on generations to come, and we would be deeply grateful for your support.
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