I was a young man of 20 when I joined the Jesuit order. A couple of years later, the superiors agreed to send me to India, after expressing a strong request to work among the poor in that country.

After finishing all my studies I was ordained a priest and began my missionary work with the Santals – a tribal group that was eager to embrace Christianity.

Mission stations were established by the Jesuits, schools were built and hostels for the girls and boys were constructed. Eventually churches were built for the faithful and clinics and dispensaries provided to cater for the sick and less able. 

Apart from my apostolic work, I took it upon myself to attend to the construction work. I had to play the part of the beggar – collecting money for various projects. Wherever I have been assigned, I have left a building of some sort; so much was my involvement, that I was called “The Builder”.

All this would not have happened were it not for the generosity of the Maltese people who, for all these years, have contributed towards these projects, among them The Mission Fund who always came to my rescue when funds dried up. I recently received €2,000 from them to go towards the building of two hostels in the village of Baghmara.

I encourage you to help the Mission Fund, which is doing an excellent job. Thank you and God Bless.

Fr Anton Scerri SJ

St Xavier High School

PO & DT Sahibganj

JHARKHAND 816109

INDIA