As in all the Dioceses throughout the Catholic world, the ministry of the Diocese of Kannur in India is to evangelize, to bring the people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Saviour. The Catholic Community is provided with the Sacraments on a daily basis. Catholics and non-Catholics are helped in many areas of needs, the missionaries performing good works that echo the Good News of the Lord Jesus.
In the words of Dr. Varghese Chakkalakal, Bishop of Kannur, the first Bishop of the Diocese, "This is a mission diocese." As such, ongoing mission work includes the following:
- Maintenance of the clergy.
- Maintenance of the seminarians both minor and Major.
- Maintenance of 2 orphanages and a house for the street children. More than 200 children are accommodated.
- A boarding house for school going children.
- Building new Churches.
- Convents.
- Management of the cultivations.
- Parish work.
These are urgent needs that cannot be met unless funding is received:
- The construction of the Diocese of Kannur Cathedral (now completed in 2009).
- Desiring to put an Old Age Home (now completed in 2010) for the ill treated and neglected.
- Construction of a retreat centre for the priests, religious and lay people.
- To put up a new residence for the cultivation Manager and staff working in the field.
- A seminary villa for the seminarians.
- Construction of houses for the homeless. The minimum of $2000.00 is required for one house.
The above information was provided by Fr. Antony Pius Edezhath during his correspondence. With 100 priests in the Diocese, I have no doubt that the list must be longer.