MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

          This has been a busy year and I want to thank you for many years of help that I have received. I have been here sixty year now and my ministry has been very fruitful and interesting. I have been sixty years with the Garo, Tibetian Tribe here in the Madhupur Jungle.

            I started the Jalchatra Mission in 1960 with 2000 Catholics. Today there are over 20,000. The Garos were uneducated and with many diseases.

They practiced their ancient religion from Tibet. I opened many Primary Schools and two High Schools. Today many are College graduates and are professional police, doctors, nurses and have jobs in many beauty parlors.

            They are known for their honesty and hard working peacefully. It is a matriarchal tribe and the women are hard working and honest. At marriage the boy goes to the girl’s home. The children take the mother’s family name.

The Garos are 90% educated now and getting good jobs in the cities.

            Pirgacha Mission now has 10,000 Catholics with thirty-three Primary Schools and village Churches. They have Mass once a month. Here at the Mission we have a High School with 650 students. Many go to College in the cities and get good jobs. We have a girl’s boarding with 135 girls and a boy’s boarding with 60 boys. The boy goes to the girl’s home at marriage.

            We have a small hospital with 20 beds run by three nurses that take many deliveries and tropical diseases. There are 30 poisonous snakes here and many come for treatment. We use the 300,000 volt stun gun to detoxify the snake bites. Many come from afar for treatment. Last year we treated over 300 snake bites and no patients died.

            Your help has made this Mission possible and many prayers are said for you and your families. Many thanks for your help and prayers.

Sincerely,

Rev. Eugene E. Homrich, CSC