Pray with India, August 24, 2025
Lectionary Selection: Luke 13: 10-17
Prayers for India
Dear Lord, Our Liberator, have mercy on us—the millions of women, men, children, and transgender individuals in India who are suffering due to HIV and AIDS. As our nation celebrated its 78th year of freedom this Independence Day on August 15, many continue to live in bondage—like the Israelites in Egypt—crying out in pain, hunger, and rejection. These siblings are denied food, medicine, dignity, and hope, and are crushed under the weight of stigma and discrimination. Lord, especially bless the orphaned children, and the aged who feel forgotten.
Yet, we thank you, Lord, for the Diocese of Calcutta, and Arunima Hospice and Snehakunja Children’s Home, who offer light in this darkness. We give thanks to you, Lord, for the support of Global Ministries of the Disciples of Christ and the United Church of Christ, who walk with us through the struggle. Bless their commitment to serving the socially excluded, especially aged people living with HIV, and the women in sex work, facing exploitation and rejection.
Lord, empower us to prevent the rising cases of HIV among adolescents and youth. Help us to restore the dignity of those suffering through education, nutrition, care, and love. Strengthen us to integrate them back into society.
Thank you, Lord, for enabling us in this prophetic ministry. Guide us with your wisdom to fulfil Christ’s mission. Have mercy on us, Lord. Amen.
Mission Moment from India
Arunima Hospice and Snehakunja Children’s Home: A Beacon of Redemption and Renewal
Arunima Hospice, a care and support centre under the Diocese of Calcutta, CNI, began with the mission to care for the poor and marginalized, especially people living with HIV (PL-HIV). Over time, it has grown beyond medical care into a sanctuary of healing, dignity, and transformation. The hospice has become a comprehensive support centre that touches every aspect of the lives of people living with HIV. The most interesting and unique part of this development is the Snehakunja Childcare Centre. The childcare centre started with humble beginnings and is now a role model in India and the international community.
Ayesha arrived in 2007 with one paralyzed cerebral hemisphere and an HIV diagnosis. Rejected by her family due to the stigma, she found refuge and purpose at Arunima. Today, she serves as the house mother to young girls, embodying the very care and compassion that once saved her.
Mallika and Sanat, both battling cancers along with HIV, were also left behind by their families. But Arunima embraced them. Here, they are more than patients — they are human beings with value, stories, and a future shaped by love and care.
Their stories ripple into the lives of the children at Snehakunja, many of whom are immunocompromised. Once vulnerable, they now thrive, receiving mainstream education and training in music, art, and life skills. They help younger children, participate in outreach programs, and pursue careers in IT, education, and nursing.
Among them are Mon and Moitri, two baby girls born within Arunima’s walls. Today, they shine brightly, excelling in both academics and instrumental music. Moitri’s journey is especially moving: her mother, a patient suffering from schizophrenia, has struggled with stability and perception of reality. Yet, despite such deep challenges, Moitri is blossoming into a focused, intelligent, and graceful young girl — a symbol of hope rising through hardship.
Arunima Hospice is no longer just a care unit. It is a cradle of rebirth, resilience, and radiant faith — a living witness to what love, service, and Christ-centred mission can achieve. And it reminds and reassures us in and through the words of the psalmist: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22).
Written by Suvabrota Das, Director of Arunima Hospice and Snehakunja Children’s Home, in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Partners in India
- Center for Social Equity and Inclusion (CSEI)
- Student Christian Movement of India
- Christian Medical College, Ludhiana
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI)
- Pravaham, Vellore
- Tamilnadu Theological Seminary
- Lady Doak College
- Private: Henry Martyn Institute
- Family Village Farm and King’s Matriculation
- Deep Griha Society, Pune
- Darjeeling Tibetan Refugee Center and Tibetan Children’s Village
- Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)
- Church of South India (CSI)
- Church of North India (CNI)
- United Theological College, Bangalore