Greetings to you from the Community of St. Theresa's Church, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad.

This parish has more than 1000 families. There are 5500 Catholics apart from the floating population. We have Salesian Cooperators Unit. Vincent de Paul Society, Youth of Christ and other Associations for Children, youth and women. We have a very good lay leadership in the Parish. The devotions to the Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and the Sacred Heart are fostered, cherished and nurtured with zeal and enthusiasm.

This parish is situated in the Arch Diocese of Hyderabad. The foundation stone for the parish church was laid on 9th February, 1966. The Church and the Presbytery were built at the same time. The late Archbishop Msgr Arulappa D.D. entrusted this parish to the Salesians on 22nd August 1975. When the parish was offered to us it was the industrial belt with 1470 Catholics and it was completely out of the city. Due to the committed service of the Salesians, 4 Parishes have already been carved out of this Parish. We still have more than 1000 families in our parish. Since it is located on the busy Mumbai high way, lot of floating population comes to attend our Church services.

As it was started by the Diocese, they started with the minimum land when they established this Parish Centre in 1966. The real situation at the moment is:

1. The place is too small to conduct any youth activities. On Major feasts like Christmas and Easter we are forced to go to the nearby grounds of a Religious Congregation.
2. Both the Church and the Presbytery are old and too small to serve the faithful in a fruitful manner.
3. The Catholic population is always on the increase. Being a metropolitan City, many people are coming in search of jobs from various parts of the country.
4. Our sick confreres often come for health check ups to the city and we need proper guest rooms toaccommodate them.

The Present condition of the Church:

1. The present Church is not big enough to conduct the church functions.
2. The roof of the Church is with asbestos. It is old and leaking and it has to be totally renewed. It will cost us much.
3. Since the walls are built with country lime. they are in dilapidated condition.
4. During the renovation of the roof, the floor and the walls will be damaged and hence the walls will have to be repaired and the flooring will have to be renewed.
5. Electric wiring and sound system will haver to be renewed.
6. The windows are of old type and if we change them, the walls may be affected. In short we may have to build almost a new Church.
7. Even if we do all that, the place is not sufficient for the present Catholic population. We have 4 masses in the centre and two others at the substations on Sunday. Many people remain outside the Church during the Masses. Hence a bigger and spacious Church is essential.
8. At present we use the near by religious convent grounds for Easter and Christmas Services.
9. The land we have is very little and it is occupied with buildings. There is absolutely no place for any youth activities.
10. There is absolutely no place for parking the vehicles.

The Advantages of reconstructing the church:

1. We can build a much bigger and spacious Church to contain the faithful during the Mass.
2. We can make the Church more beautiful to many pilgrims since it is situated in an important part of the city. Many Hindus and Muslims come to our Church to pray.
3. We can make it a centre of Marian Devotion under the title of "Mary Help of Christians".
4. We can have the Church on the 1st floor thus we can get a lot of free place underneath, which can be used for:
   a. All the family functions
   b. Church functions during the Christimas and Easter celebrations.
   c. To conduct all Youth programmes and also the youth will have accommodation to stay over night.
   d. To park the vehicles during Sunday Masses and at other Church functions.
   e. To Rent out the place for marriage and other functions, which will bring some income to carry on our activities.
   f. To conduct seminars, and workshops for salesian cooperators, Vincent De Paul Society members alterboys associations and legion of Mary members.
   g. To conduct catechism classes for all children on Sundays.
   h. To organize summer camps and holiday camps.
   i. To organize self help groups for the women of the parish through the help of the Salesian cooperators.
   j. To conduct choir practices and also daily music classes for the children and youth of the parish.
   k. To provide some recreation facilities like indoor games to the youth of the parish.
   l. To conduct health camps for the parishioners, councilling sessions for the youth and classes in preparation for marriage for the adults of the parish.
   m. To conduct weekly and monthly instruction on sacraments, and regular Bible classes for the parishioners.
   n. To conduct vocational courses for the parish.
   0. To conduct adult education programme and evening classes for children
   p. To conduct audio visual programmes catechetical aids, and catechist training.
   q. To promote inter religious dialogue since many non Christians come to pray in our church.

Cost of Renovation:

The renovation of the Church will definitely cost less than the reconstruction of the new Church. But still it will be a considerable amount. Since we will have to renew almost everything it may cost us approximately to Rs. 75,00,000.00. After spending all that money still we will not be able to solve the problem of space for Church services and other functions. Hence, we feel that it is better to go for a new construction. It was also the opinion of our Provincial council held on 3rd June 2006.

This project has the blessings of our Archbishop Marampudi Joji who know all our work and gives all encouragement and also of my provincial Rev. Fr. Noel Maddichetty.

Help Received:

From the Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation Rs. 50,00,000/-

Contribution from the people:

We hope to collect Rs. 55,00,000 (Euro 100,000,00) for this purpose from the pople of this area.

Help Requested:

We have requested your help for the construction of the church Building only. All other expenses starting with corporation permissions, levelling the present structures, beautification of the Church, Furniture, etc will be managed with the contributions we receive locally or from other places. We request you to contribute Euro 30,000,00 for this project.

We pray that the Good Lord may bless you abundantly to lead and spread the mission of the Congregation in Don Bosco way.

Thanking you,

Yours in Don Bosco

FR. BALASWAMY MEDABALIMI SDB
RECTOR & PARISH PRIEST