IACA

Dear IACA Supporter:

Since its inception in 1991, the Indian American Catholic Association (IACA) has nurtured the faith and promoted the religious practices of immigrants from South Asia.  IACA's dream to establish an Oratory to Our Lady of Good Health, Vailankanni, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, DC was realized in 1997. This seemingly impossible task was successful because of your support. This beautiful oratory at the nation’s preeminent Marian Shrine has become one of the most visited at the Basilica. IACA has also worked towards enriching the lives of its members and of those less fortunate by organizing various religious and charitable activities.  Some of these activities include:

1.     Holy Mass, Rosary, and Novena on the first Saturday of every month.

2.     An Annual Pilgrimage each September, which attracts thousands of devotees from across the country.

3.     Mothers Day celebrations (honoring Mother Mary and all mothers) on a Sunday each May.

4.     Christmas celebrations (promoting traditional Catholic practices) in December.

5.     Monthly sponsorship of food at the (Mother Teresa’s) Hospice for the Dying and Destitute, in Washington, DC.

6.     Semi-annual Healing Retreats preached by the Vincentian Fathers of Potta, India.

7.     Charitable contributions to local or international disasters, (e.g., Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami in Madras/Sri Lanka).

8.     Joint sponsorship of events with other Asian Catholic communities (annual Multicultural Pilgrimages, Catholic Heritage Festival).

IACA needs about $15,000/year for its devotional activities and operations. Currently, this is met by a small group of individuals who contribute every year.  This may become unsustainable in the coming years, given these hard economic times. We believe there are more people in our communities who are willing to offer financial support for continuing the devotional activities facilitated by IACA.

This letter is an appeal to you to support IACA's activities by committing $25, $50 or $100/ year, so that it can continue to effectively function in serving its faith-based community. We hope you will prayerfully consider our request and commit to building a more vibrant and energetic IACA. Please pay mail your checks made payable to “IACA” to the address listed below.  You can also make payments online at http://www.iacausa.org/support/how-to-donate. Your donations are tax deductible, as permitted by law.

Yours in Christ,

Puthupparampil V. Scaria, PhD                                                  Mariaselvam Chinnappan

Finance Committee Chair                                                                          President