Several members of the Camillian community from Killucan, Co. Westmeath attended a unique celebration in India on 2 February 2016, marking the establishment of the first Province of the Order of St Camillus in that country.
Among those in attendance were Fr Joseph Naikarakudy and Fr Matthew Suneesh, both of whom are from India and attached to the Killucan community, as well as Bro. John O’Brien.
The Killucan religious had a meeting the representative of Pope Francis in India, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio on 4 February 2016. During the meeting, Bro. John O’Brien presented the Archbishop with a cheque for €11,800, which is the final installment of the donation raised in the Diocese of Meath following last April’s deadly earthquake in Nepal. The total amount raised in the parishes was €63,625.
The Pope’s envoy thanked Bishop Michael Smith and the priests and parishioners of the Diocese of Meath for the very generous contribution. He explained that the latest donation will be used by the local church in Nepal to provide new houses for families who lost their homes in the earthquake, which killed more than 9,000 people in the region.