CHICAGO: Transforming birthdays into meaningful acts of compassion, the Child Mission League (CML) Unit of St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church, Chicago, continues to bring hope to underprivileged children across the world through its “Share with Joy, Prayer with Care” Birthday Charity Project.

As part of the initiative, the birthday offerings of CML members celebrating their birthdays in July were dedicated to the children of the Engolole Orphanage in Tanzania, Africa.

Established in 1937 in Morogoro, Tanzania, Engolole Orphanage is one of the country’s oldest child-care institutions. Managed by the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) Sisters, the orphanage provides a safe home, nutritious meals, education, healthcare, clothing, and emotional support to more than one hundred orphaned and underprivileged children, helping them build a brighter future.

A special birthday celebration and prayer gathering was held at the orphanage on July 14. The program was led by Fr. Philbert, a well-wisher and supporter of the CML Unit. Serving as a chaplain at a military hospital in Chicago, Fr. Philbert visited the orphanage during his missionary trip on behalf of St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church.

During the visit, Fr. Philbert celebrated the birthdays with the children, prayed with them, and shared a message of God’s love and compassion. He also distributed birthday gifts to every child and donated essential food supplies for the orphanage, made possible through the generous contributions of the July birthday celebrants of the CML Unit.

The enthusiastic participation, generosity, and prayers of all the July birthday members played a vital role in the success of this charitable mission. As part of the project, a special blessing service for the July birthday celebrants was also held at St. Mary’s Knanaya Catholic Church, Chicago, on July 19, with Fr. Siju Mudakkodil, Parish Vicar, as the principal celebrant.

The “Share with Joy, Prayer with Care” Birthday Charity Project, launched in October 2025, will conclude in September 2026 at Mar Makil Balika Bhavan, Punnathara, Kottayam, India. The project is being carried out under the guidance of Fr. Siju Mudakkodil, Parish Vicar, and Fr. Aneesh Maveliputhenpura, CML Spiritual Director, with coordination by Jojo Analil, Director of the CML Unit.

Through this initiative, the CML Unit continues to demonstrate that birthdays can become occasions to share God’s love, bringing joy, hope, and dignity to children in need, regardless of geographical boundaries.