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Mission Sunday Tribute to Briar Marianus at Ramakuppam

Friar Marianus Reddy is hailed as an apostle of Palamaner for the extensive mission work done in and around Palamaner. There are almost four parishes which have been created out of the mission work of Briar Marianus namely Bairedipalli, Bangarupalayam,Ramakuppam and Ventakagirikotta. These parishes are the fruit of his dedicated work among the non-Christians. The Parish Priest of Ramakuppam Br. James expressed his desire that on the day of Mission Sunday he would like to pay tribute to the great souls who worked to create the Ramakuppam Parish especially friar Marianus and Mr. Francis the senior most catechist who worked with him. He said that it was friar Marianus who pitched his tent among the people of Ramakuppam along with catechists to evangelize without any fear and rest. He bought the four acres of land and started the Christian community with three families.

Today there are fifty families who are Catholics. They all come to the church on Sundays and participate in the liturgy very actively. On the 8th November 2020, friars Charles A and Roobandoss went to Ramakuppam to participate in the celebration. At around 10 am the whole church was filled with people and children. But the parish priest told us that of the families which came for the Mass 60 percent of them were Hindus, 20 Percent were Hindu-Christian and 20 percent were Catholics. The church was beaming with simple joy of a receptive heart. During the homily the Parish Priest shared about the hard labour of friars Marianus, Balasundar, Prasad Chiley and others who used to face strong resistance from the other people and how they withstood and went ahead in preaching the Gospel to all people.

Friar Charles A shared about Br. Marianus during the felicitation ceremony. He said that once Br. Marianus was asked, “Are you a charismatic?” He answered that I am an asthmatic with a charismatic spirit. At one point in his life, he took an active interest in preaching besides his charitable activities. The Bishop Arulappa wanted to ordain him but he refused it saying, “I just want to be an ordinary broom in the hand of God and do not desire anything more.” The Parish Priest gifted all the eighty children who came for Mass with a stainless-steel plate each engraved with the names of Br. Marianus and Most Rev. Arulappa, the first Bishop of Cudapah who encouraged Brother Marianus to do the evangelizing.

We gave to the Parish a framed-photo of Br. Marianus for his memory in the mission station. The priest provided a sumptuous chicken biriyani for all those people who came for the celebration. We were glad to know that Friar Marianus is still remembered in the hearts of people whom he touched with the hand of Jesus.

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