“Charity in Justice”, based on the Gospel values and heeding to the needs of time, is the motto of St. Joseph’s Charity Institute, Adaikalapuram. The Institute is a home of refuge to all without distinction of Caste, Creed, Colour and Languages i.e. belonging to one family as Josephites, Believing in One God and worshipping together, Experiencing Unity in Diversity at the same time appreciating one another’s unique differences and speaking the Language of Love. In this family, Not ‘I’, but ‘We’ attitude brings us together to serve as team. Though the leaders or the animators of the home belong to different ministries like Ordained Priests both young and old, Religious Nuns belonging to different Religious Orders having different charisms and doing different ministries of Teaching, Health, Social Work, Catechetical and Pastoral, Hospitality, Hostel wardens, etc., all work for the integral formation of people entrusted to their care. Added to this team of religious personnel, the Institute has more than a hundred teaching and non-teaching staff and inmates whose ability, accessibility and availability are in one way or the other add colour and flavor to her wellbeing. Unity is strength and the members of the house show this by helping one another in need, even if they themselves are in need.
The life style of the First Christian Community, living the concept of “Nobody in want” is very much lived in this home. Our home receives all sorts of people, like the people in need and the ‘friends in need’. It’s not an exaggeration to say that this home, a mini-world in itself, is said to be the “Heart of Thoothukudi Diocese”. The Diocesan administration has been witnessing to the World from her inception in 1854, the role of the heart, i.e. giving and receiving love. Everyone who enters this home feels a ‘home away from home’, even if the inmates are abandoned, neglected, semi-orphans or with parents who are not in a position to bring up their own kids. ‘Everyone is precious’, ‘Each One is an Image of God’, ‘Each one is unique’, ‘Nothing is a waste’, ‘Nobody is in want’, ‘All are welcome’, ‘Little is great’, ‘Hoping against Hope’, etc., are the different maxims that one experiences while getting in touch with this Institute. ‘Belongingness’, ‘Connectedness’, ‘Humanness’, are the expected things that keep the life in this community lively and lovely. Thus, the faith, hope and charity are lived in action in this home and she has been a beacon of hope to the hopeless.
If we do our best, then God will do the rest. St. Thomas Becket has been inspiring for all of us as we start the day, celebrating the Holy Eucharist in the Institute’s Church, dedicated to him. St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church and also Patron of the Institute intercedes for us, Priests, Nuns, Retired working men, Abandoned old women, Young boys and girls and all the inmates in need of his greater intercession. Mother Mary showers Her Son’s Special Blessings upon her Children. Above all, the presence of the Almighty in this community, “United in His Name” leads both the inmates and the collaborators to build the ‘heaven on earth’ and makes us experience His Providential Care in every moment of her Being and Doing. DEO GRATIAS!
