Blessed Brian Home and Hospital: Orphanage Provides Loving Care to Children in India

In December 2004, a tsunami hit India and devastated the coastal areas. More than 10,000 people died, and more than 5,000 were reported missing. Many thousands of children were left orphaned. Fr. Tom Aduri, Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Topeka) Pastor, was a newly ordained priest from India. Parishioners wanted to help, and it was determined that an orphanage was needed. Parishioners agreed to donate 10 percent of their building fund to the orphanage. The orphanage primarily housed boys, so Holy Spirit parishioners John and Terry Gillcrist stepped up to build an orphanage for girls and their brothers. In June 2012, the Blessed Brian Home opened in Porumamilla, India. About 70 orphans live there and receive schooling up to junior college.

Fr. Tom’s brother and sister-inlaw, Ravi and Roni Chita, run the home with his mother’s help, too. In August 2021, the Blessed Brian Hospital also opened to serve those in Porumamilla.

Less than two percent of those in India are Catholic. Many are Hindu, and there are also Muslims. India follows a caste system, with those on the low end finding themselves often in extreme poverty. It seems in Porumamilla that this is changing a bit because of the impact of the Blessed Brian Home. The community is becoming cleaner, and there is development taking place.

Fr. Bill Bruning serves on the board for the Blessed Brian Home — he has traveled to Porumamilla twice and hopes to return sometime this year.

“The children there are so joyful,” he says. “They have been through so much pain, yet they are so grateful, and it’s really beautiful.”

Other parishes in the area also support the orphanage in various ways. Prince of Peace in Olathe started the Prince of Peace feeding program. Each year, about 33,000 pounds of food are given to those in need in Porumamilla and the surrounding areas. This is funded solely by parishioners at Prince of Peace. Holy Spirit Catholic Church also supports the work of the Blessed Brian Home.

In December, the School of Religion students here at Queen of the Holy Rosary and their families prepared soups that were sold via free will donation. All the money collected benefited the Blessed Brian Home.

“The students wanted to use this project to support this work,” Fr. Bill says. “It will help them get a global sense of being Christian and lift up our Hindu brothers and sisters.”

Another facet of this work is microloans given to women to start a small business. The loan can help them get on a path to financial stability.

“Fr. Tom Aduri’s vision has made all of this happen,” Fr. Bill says. “God has worked through him and all the supporters to realize this dream.”

If you would like to learn more about the Blessed Brian Home and Hospital, or to support this good work, visit blessedbrianhome.org.