Members of the association Pilgrims of Charity

The second is situated in India, in the heart of the main action. Beyond the administrative aspect, the association also counts in its ranks some volunteers always quick to act on the ground.

Priest and chaplain of high school, it is on February 11th, 2003 that a call to serve the poorest change my life. On December 9th, 2003, my vocation of Pilgrim of Charity is revealed to me and I find myself on the heaps of garbage in Calcutta. To pour Love onto these children without root and without roof, to serve them and to give them a reason for hope, such is from now on my fight of every day. Assessment of these 10 years: I received everything from them!

Two convictions live in me: God and the Poor. Two words and a single reality: the street became my church!

My name is John and I am from San Francisco, in the United States. I came to Kolkata in 2004 to volunteer with the M.C. Sisters and this is where I met Brother Francois. After realizing we had the same vision to serve those in need with God's help, we served together in the Sealdah station and hospital. Since then, I maintain a close partnership with the Pilgrims of Charity mission.

My vision: I hope that every person on the planet has an opportunity to reach their full potential. Sometimes due to the social environment, young people are now able to receive the opportunities they need to grow. It is my hope that the Pilgrims of Charity organization can assist the young boys and girls who are interested to grow intellectually and spiritually.

Single and teacher, for more than a dozen years I am aware of the activities of the pilgrims of Charity. Twice already, in 2014 and 2016, I spent three summer weeks in Kolkata to know more about what the members of the association are living... Being more and more involved in the life of the association, I seem to answer a deep call to give and give to the poorest.

Since the beginning of my working life (1956) and until now, I always had the concern to put at the disposal of others, associations or labor unions, the spare time which I could have. It is thus quite naturally that I put at the service of the Pilgrims of Charity some skills which were given to me by my education or that I acquired by the studies.

As a retired person and a widower since many years, I belong, since his creation, to the Association the "Pilgrims of Charity". In the service of the poorest, I meet numerous friends; the testimonies of Love that we exchange give me joy and happiness.

Mother of six children, friend of brother Francis-Mary for 20 years, I have been struck, since the very first encounter with him on the roads of Czestochowa, by his joy of life and his smile.  His mission with the children of Kolkata is a way to put in practice the charity and mercy that our Lord taught us. His testimony in the schools of Europe is a necessity to open the kids to the universal dimension of love and sharing.

I knew Brother Francis-Mary since 10 years, he was calling some body in order to get medecine for the poor. Immediately, I was impressed how he was looking to each person, especially the poorest of the poor. Today, I am very happy to be a Pilgrim of Charity.

My only desire: to make others happy.

Working toward the destituted children, I met Brother Francis-Mary when he was starting his work to Sealdah station. His hope and his smile in front of any difficult situation had impressed me.

My wish: To take out a rootless and roofless child from the street, it's to give him a reason of Hope.

...

Kamal is a former child of the railway station. He came to know brother Francis-Mary while he was schooled within the organization Don Bosco. 28-year-old from now on, He is a precious help by its knowledge of all the children of Sealdah.