Take a look at the 4 wallpapers given above. Feeling an urge to do something about it?  Read on…

Cordaid – in general

Cordaid combines more than 90 years’ experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. We are one of the biggest international development organizations with a network of almost a thousand partner organizations in 36 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Our counterpart organizations work on various themes, including participation, emergency aid and reconstruction, health and well-being and entrepreneurship. Each year around 170 million euros is spent on initiatives in the South, of which over 30 million euros is available for emergency aid. A small part is spent in the Netherlands on lobby, public support and consciousness-raising.

Cordaid has a strong support base in the Dutch community

This is proved not only by some 370,000 contributors who support Cordaid financially, but also by the commitment of volunteers who collect clothing, organise meetings in their towns or parishes and assist in organising festivals.

People and organisations that set up their own projects can also count on Cordaid’s support. This large-scale commitment is of vital importance to Cordaid. It expresses the solidarity between people and with that forms the core of our identity Cordaid stands in the long tradition of Mensen in Nood (Caritas Netherlands), Memisa Medicus Mundi, the Dutch Bishop’s Lenten Campaign (Vastenaktie) and Cebemo.

Its history goes back to the beginning of the last century when the organizations were active in the area of shelter and (missionary) care for refugees, in providing direct aid in the event of disasters, in medical care and in the direct improvement of the social and economic position of poor people.

Supported by broad layers of the Dutch population, they were able to support the work of hundreds of Dutch priests, nuns, brothers, and volunteers in their care for the whole of humanity. Conditions have changed over the years. The missionaries have handed over their work to local organizations, which has resulted in a huge expansion in Cordaid’s partner network.

Organisational structure

Cordaid is a foundation lead by a board of directors, consisting of two directors who are supervised by a Board of Supervision. The board of directors is supported by secretarial and administrative staff. There is a workers council that negotiates directly with the director.

As of January 1st 2007 the Cordaid organisation is structured around the programmes. There are four programme sectors: Participation, Emergency Aid and Reconstruction , Health and Well-being and Entrepreneurship. The programme sectors have regional teams. Besides regional teams the sector Emergency Aid and Reconstruction has a team for immediate emergencies. In the sector Participation there is a small team for the developing programme of Women and Violence. And in the sector Entrepreneurship there is a fund management team.

Visit our official Website – - – Cordaid Homepage

Today, we celebrate our 62nd Independence Day. Happy Independence Day to all of you.

We got this freedom by fighting hard against our suppressors, The British Rulers. I am sure all of you are well aware of the hardships endured by our forefathers so that we can have this wonderful freedom which we enjoy so much now.  Take a moment today to remember and salute them.

15th August gives us a great opportunity to celebrate India’s freedom as free sovereign political nation. There are various kinds of freedom. Do Indians enjoy true freedom? When we look at it from a national point of view, yes, we are free now as a nation. But we must also achieve freedom from something else also. The freedom which we failed to achieve all along, until now.

Types of Freedom :

Political Freedom - India is enjoying political freedom. The democracy in India is successful that people have freedom choose their own representatives to Parliament and State Legislature. Peoples’ will is determined by peaceful elections.

Social Freedom - India’s social freedom is not as good as political freedom. There is discrimination against women in all walks of life. The gender ratio is against women and is matter of concern in several districts. Deprivation of resources and opportunities on the basis of caste is also practiced in many parts of the country. In certain pockets of the country, the religious minorities are harassed or threatened.

Economic Freedom - Economic freedom is available but still there is struggle for the poor to get their share. Poverty cycle seems to be perpetual. The poor Below Poverty Line do not have food security. The subsidized food meant for them do not reach them as it is looted by the rich traders. Their children do not go to school. With mid-day meals, more and more children from these families are going to school. Many children from poorer families are not able to pursue higher education, as they do not have money to pay fees. Poor do not have opportunity to become entrepreneurs.

Spiritual Freedom - Each and every Indian should enjoy spiritual freedom. Lord Jesus Christ taught: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) The phrase ‘set you free’ means a person is in bondage and requires deliverance. It is evident that human beings are held in bondage by Satan with his cunning traps or nets. There are five significant nets in Satan’s armour: 1. “Me Only” attitude, 2. Mindset, 3. Myths, 4. Memories and 5. Mammon.

The Main Problems :

“Me only” attitude/Selfishness - The first bondage of men/women is selfishness, which is ‘me only’ attitude. Or, a life centered by a person’s ego. Adam sinned by opting to make decision that was rebellion and was satisfying his ego as confident, assertive decision maker. Instead of leading a life with God as centre, Adam opted for self-centered life.

Unless a person is delivered from being gravitated towards his/her self, the person cannot enjoy freedom. This is possible only having Lord Jesus Christ as the centre of life. Lord Jesus asked the foolish rational of human beings: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25) Man can opt to forfeit his very self to Satan or gain freedom by surrendering to Lord Jesus Christ.

Mindset – governed my traditions and culture - People are governed by ideas in the culture. For example, people have ‘auspicious time’ on certain days. Good events like marriage or house warming ceremony is scheduled during this precise hours. But, even Christians schedule their programmes during auspicious time, which is sin. God, the Father is Sovereign and all time is good.

True freedom is deliverance from mindset governed by traditions and culture. Traditions, culture and media constantly communicate practices that are not biblical. Even social evils like domestic violence, caste practices, dowry…etc are examples of bondage in minds. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) The Word of God renews and transforms the mind, so that Christians are not enslaved by patterns of the world.

Myths – Freedom means no limits - The society today reinterprets freedom in a diabolic manner. They forget that freedom has always limitations. For example, a fish is free as long as it is within the water body. The minute it leaves the water, it begins to die. Morality is the freedom area for humanity, when human beings try to defy the boundary; they begin to die morally and spiritually. Then God’s wrath and judgment cannot be averted. “So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord -’freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:17).

Another myth is: “Freedom means multiple choices”. With the economic boom, people get plenty of choices, whether it is food, clothes, footwear or any other products. Postmodern youngsters think that there are many choices in spiritual aspects of life also. But, to choose life there is only one option. Salvation is through Lord Jesus Christ. Many are deceived with the myth that there are many ways for forgiveness of sins.

Memories – Real and imagined - Memories are so powerful that a person could be controlled or manipulated for life. Some people are prisoners of past and are unable to break free from those memories. Human nature is to forget the good things and remember bad and bitter events. It gets imprinted in their minds and not erasable for years. Many of their present life is also spoiled due to such memories. Child abuse victims, people who experienced rejection, abandonment, divorce, failure, loss, grief, accident, bereavement; have bitter memories and are unable to shake free.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13-14) Paul was able to forget the past. Christians are called to be future oriented. Each day in a life of Christian is nearer to eternal glory. So, the future is always bright. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (II Cor 5: 17). When a person comes to Lord Jesus Christ his/her past is erased and newness comes as reality.

Money – The alternative god -  people worship, work and even die for. Money could be a good servant, but not bad master. In pursuit of money people lose focus, values and meaning in life. Rich become richer, poor become poorer. Rich are not satisfied with what they have, they like to have more. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (I Timothy 6:10)

What can we do?

As India celebrates Independence Day, we wish freedom for all Indians in all aspects of life. The superior freedom is in Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians we have privilege to enjoy the Freedom which is true and relevant. But, also Christians have a responsibility towards people around them. So, they should be channels of bringing True Freedom in the lives of people. Christians in India have a great contribution to make for making India a super power.

Independence Day Prayers

Tags: christians, heaven, India, jesus christ, News, prayer, satan

Jesus Fraternity is a catholic voluntary organization under the All Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference. This was started in the year 1981 and was formally approved and registered as a voluntary and charitable organization in accordance to Govt. regulations as per the charitable institutions act of the Govt. Kerala, India. Jesus Fraternity as voluntary and charitable organization / society has its Head Office at Pastoral Orientation Centre, Palarivattom, Ernakulam, Cochin-25, Kerala, India.

“Come to me you who are blessed by my father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For… I was in prison and you came to visit me”(Matthew 25:34, 36). Here is an opportunity obtain manifold blessings by carrying out this mandate of Jesus Christ, through Jesus Fraternity.

Jesus Fraternity is a movement under the supervision the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference. It is a fellowship of prayer and fraternity serving the lost, least and last especially in the prisons of Kerala, by striving for the holistic (total integrated) rehabilitation of the prisoners, would be prisoners (criminals) and their families. Fraternity meets the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical, familial, financial and social needs of these people.

It is estimated that before the advent of Jesus Fraternity and similar ministries, 75% of the prisoners (as in other parts of the world) who were released from prisons of Kerala, committed crime and were imprisoned again. It is reported that this rate has been reduced to 20% as the effect of the activities of Jesus Fraternity and similar ministries. Thus Jesus Fraternity helps the society a peaceful place to live for you and for your children.

Power of Prayer

The Fraternity is empowered by prayer. Hundreds of members of Jesus Fraternity are those who have had a Christ-experience and people of prayer. Their involvement in the Fraternity deepens their spiritual experiences. That is one of the reasons why more and more join the activities of Jesus Fraternity.

Fellowship of Fraternity

The principal aspect of Jesus Fraternity is its fraternal spirit of Christian brotherhood, where every participant is supported by prayers of hundreds of volunteers and beneficiaries of Fraternity in prisons, ashramams and families. The supporters / accomplices thus experience true Christian fellowship or koinonia.

Proclaimers of the Word

Jesus Fraternity proclaims the Gospel (Word) in word and deed, taking-the-unchanging but life-changing Gospel to people behind prison doors. The prisoners and their families thus come to know the love of God, the merciful and compassionate Father, the grace of Jesus Christ through whom all have obtained forgiveness of sins and reunited with God and man and the comforting fellowship of the Holy Spirit. They realize that Jesus extends his grace, free to every human, irrespective of caste, creed, ideology or belief background. Jesus Fraternity is thus committed to the kerygma.

Today, on this World Friendship Day, fraternity members will go to prisons to meet all prisoners, to make them feel more comfortable and close to God. Lets pray for all these prisoners and also for the fraternity members, so that God bless them abundantly to keep up the good work they are doing.