ABOUT ST. MARY'S SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE POOR

With the aim to develop and uplift the oppressed in socio, economic, educational and cultural aspects, without discrimination of caste, religion, creed, St. Mary's Social Service Association was founded by a group of educated people in 1992, under the guidance of president of Mr. A. Xavier Mathew, M.A. This Association has been registered on the Societies Act of 27/1975 under the state of Tamil Nadu, India . Its office is on Door No.56/27 C, Vanapattarai Street , Tiruchirapalli 620002, Tamil Nadu State , India Tiruchirapalli is surrounded by villages. This association having General Body consists of ten educated members both ladies and gets who are interested in the welfare of the poor and down trodden. All the important decisions are taken in the General Body Meeting. This association having Executive Body consists of five members with President, Secretary, and Treasurer. This committee looks after the administration work. The President is authorized to correspond with everyone to get financial assistance from donors from overseas and domestic level to implement the projects for the development of the poor. The President and Treasurer are authorized to operate the Bank A/c jointly. Every year the accounts are audited by a qualified chartered accountant.

The achievements of this society in the past years are quite remarkable. Holding a high memorandum, it has carried out many projects and schemes for the benefits of the poor and down-trodden. Several of its programmes are published in the local vernacular news papers.

ACTIVITIES OF ST.MARY'S SOCIAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION: 
Poverty is the root cause of all problems in India . Poverty is due to unemployment. Many young men and women are unemployed today. We wish to remind them "LEARN A SKILL, LIVE IN PEACE".

St. Mary's Social Service Association has established an Institute for Tailoring and Embroidery. The students of this Institute are recruited from financially backward community. They are given training to stitch all sorts of clothes used by kids, boys and girls, young and old people. They are also given training to make embroidery in clothes. On the completion of the training, the students are confident enough to venture into Self-employment. Our Tailoring Institute has received several awards for its excellent performances. Fr. Herman has been supporting us for more than 5 years. He is very pleased with the work we do for the poor.

This Association also gives training to young women in Beautician course. Women are taught the art of threading, facial, manicure, pedicure, hair dressing, bridal make up, bleaching, mehandi, etc. It also given training to young men and women in the field of Screen Printing, Photo Lamination, Book Binding, Paper carry-bag making, Candle Stick making etc. We also counsel them on how to start their own small scale industry and the ways and means of marketing their products. The youth is advised to utilize the subsidiaries and aids granted by the Government under self-employment scheme. They are also instructed how to prepare project work to get loan for self-employment business.

We conduct SELF IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME for young men and women to inculcate in them the right attitude towards life. We take care to install in them high ideals like discipline, self confidence, dignity of labor, cooperative sprit, collective responsibility, commitment to duty and other values crucial to the development of individual as a whole. Yearly once we conduct seminars for ENTREPRENEURS. We give useful information in this workshops on employment opportunities.

To foster patriotism, religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, we celebrate Christmas, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanthi by conducting religious harmony meeting, oratorical contest and cultural programs for school going children. We distribute books, notebooks and school uniforms to the needy children free of cost. During Christmas and Easter we distribute cloths to the poor.

Owing to many advancements in Medical Sciences, the number of living old people is increasing day by day. With this, their problems are also increasing. Many old-age-homes are coming up. In these circumstances, with a view to train the old people emotional, to face their old age, we conduct PLEASANT OLD AGE workshops once in a month. Old people are the treasures of the family, indispensable roots of the nation. Life's ambition should be to spend one's old age without being a burden to anyone. Less expectation means less disappointment, one experiences the fullness of life during old age, physical health during old age, mental attitude in old age, Inter-personal Relationship during old age, generation-gap Awareness etc. are the topics, on which, we invite experts to conduct seminars and workshops for the old people. Many old people take part in these workshops are profited immensely.

St. Mary's Social Service Association has been constantly showing interest on hygiene of the environment. The sick and the disabled are visited by us and the preventive methods are taught to them. It provides financial assistance to the orphans, widows, physically handicapped, lepers and aged people who seek financial assistance from the society. We conduct Medical camp, Free Eye Treatment Camp, and Aids Awareness Camp time to time.

CONCLUSION

It is the earnest desire of St. Mary's Social Service Association to enlarge the field and scope of its activities for the benefit of the poor. We are planning to start an old age home for the poor. For all these things we are in need of money. We do what we can, with our very limited resources, but their needs are beyond what we are able to do for them. It is therefore our humble request that all who know of our program donate to this very worthy cause. Your generosity will be appreciated more than you will ever know. All those who want to help us will be remembered in our daily prayers. We know that God will bless your generosity ten-fold. If you are willing to donate to us directly, please make your check payable to: St. Mary's Social Service Association and mail to Mr. Xavier Mathew B-105 Ganesh Dharshan 4/A Shankaran Pillai Road Tiruchirapalli–620002, INDIA

Thanks and God bless you.

Click Here to Read About St. Mary's New Poor Fishermen Medical Project

"Fr. Herman has been supporting us for more than 5 years. He is very pleased with the work we do for the poor."

A. Xavier Mathew
President
St. Mary's Social Service Association

Donations By
the India Projects Fund

This orginization was begun in Trichy, with the help of Mathew, the president of the St. Mary's Social Service Association.

Click Image to Enlarge

Here, Mathew and Stella, the Founders of "St. Mary's Social Service Association" in the town of Trichy, are distributing free textbooks to poor children.

St. Mary's Social Service Association supplies eye-glasses to poor older people, provide sewing instructions for young poor people, distribute notebooks for poor children, and give counseling for expectant mothers. In addition, St. Mary's Social Service Association feeds around 30 poor or gives breakfasts to 30 poor everyday except Sundays. The Association also feeds the poor on Christmas and Easter days.

                      
This Association was founded in the year 1991 while Father was assistant pastor at St. Thomas More.

Seven people are involved in running this charitable society in Trichy, approved by the Government of India.