Akashaparavakal - Friends of the Birds of the Air
An appeal for God’s Beloved Children
We find people living like sheep without a shepherd, without kith and kin, sad, destitute and having no house to lie down. As they appear exhausted with hunger, sick, wearing shabby and tattered clothes and dirty-looking who will come forward to acknowledge them as friends? It is not so easy. The sacred words “whenever you did it to one of the least of my brothers you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40) were realized when an organization called “The Friends of the Birds of the Air” (FBA) was formed under the leadership of Rev. Fr. George Kuttickal.
Aims
Because of adverse circumstances some people have been compelled to leave homes and live a depressing life on the streets. Such persons are be friended and lovingly persuaded to come back and live as respectable citizens of the society. By trying to understand them more intimately and rendering services wounds of body and mind are healed and thus they are made to realize God’s live for them.
Activities
The FBA has succeeded in enabling these brothers to become respectable persons just like gems when polished acquire new brightness and value. The organization has enabled many persons who had left homes after quarrelling to go back and live peacefully. The sick who are unable to live without the help of others are admitted into ashrams and looked after as inmates.
Throughout Kerala new centres are being established to give shelter to the “Birds of the Air”. A temporary shelter known as “Divya Shanthi Ashram” was opened near St. Sebastian’s Church. Vettucaud, Trivandrum on 2nd September 1995. With the loving and generous help of the public the daily needs are met. It is hoped that with the generous co-operation of the public a permanent home may be established. The Divya Shanthi Ashram helpers give attention to other destitute who are not inmates by inviting then to participate in meetings and community meals on special feast days and Saturdays. It is not surprising that those who cannot see the brothers who are near cannot see God who is formless and invisible Let us examine ourselves if we are like that.
We are called to do good deeds as God wants, Therefore kindly extend your co-operation and generous help to continue the activities of the Divya Shanthi Ashram for the betterment of the unfortunate brothers.
