On behalf of the Bishop of Alleppey, our sponsored families and all of us who work daily with our poor through the Franciscan Family Apostolate (FFA) I, Sister Daphne, want to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty and all our loving sponsors for the various favors and many gifts that you have showered as blessings upon our families in Alleppey for so many years! That you have done so for so many years is a wonderment. We have so much to be thankful for and join you and your country in thanking God for the blessings He has showered on America, a land of a very special people. This year, just as in previous years, all your aid to our poor families has been fruitfully channeled to the neediest among us. I assure you that every evening prayer of our families is a thanksgiving to the Lord. Such a family is that of Joseph Gaspar Kudiamsserry. His sponsor Joan Scanlon lifted him up from a pool of misery to the level he is today.

They went from this

Joseph is a fisherman who started getting assistance from Joan in 2002, a period when he was really struggling for subsistence. His wife makes coir used in making floor mats out of coconut fiber. Their children were of school age at the time. Their income was very meager. With the Joan's generous assistance they were able to put food on the table, cloth their children and provide them with the needed supplies for a good education. Further, with Joan's help and a government grant they were able to provide themselves with a proper shelter. Now, Joseph's elder daughter, Mary Jinla, has successfully completed a nursing course; their only son, Bruno David, completed a hotel management course, with funds provided by the FFA's vocational funding program, and is now working in that field. Their youngest daughter is in the 12th grade and will graduate soon. Whatever medical needs they have has been cared for by their sponsor's assistance.    

To this

What a blessing! Truly you sponsors are what Alan, our beloved director, says all the time - "manna from heaven." They are ever grateful to the Almighty for providing them with a friend like Joan and for all that she is doing for them. All our families feel this way. They assure their humble prayers for all of you especially in these hard times so filled with such natural catastrophes as have been reported with Hurricane Sandy and the present economic difficulties. We pray that God will surely protect all of you from such mishaps and bless you with His choicest graces.

Our best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving

                                                                                                                         Affectionately,

                                                                                                                         Sr. Daphne Anto