In 1997, Sister Lucy Kurien created a safe-home in a rural village outside Pune, India. All women were welcome there, any time, for any reason. Sr Lucy, a Catholic nun from rural Kerala, India, was responding to a dire need for crisis support for women in the area. She established Maher, meaning Mother’s Home in Marathi, as interfaith and caste-free.

Maher soon added nurturing homes for children and disabled adults, and extensive community outreach aimed at dismantling poverty and oppression. Their grassroots community projects are widely varied: Self-help Groups (microloan/community support groups); street theater on topics like corruption and women’s rights; daycares, tutoring, and vocational training; disaster relief and provisions for families in need; and so much more. Today, Maher serves tens of thousands of people in seven Indian states.

The >1500 residents of Maher’s 68 loving homes–children, elderly, and disabled adults–are holistically nurtured to thrive. Children attend local schools and are offered lessons in dance, taekwondo, public speaking and more. Maher supports youth into adulthood, including in higher education.

Maher is led with values of financial integrity, ecological sustainability, and the inherent equality of all people and religions. Sr Lucy remains the Director as she leads a robust, dedicated team of hundreds serving their communities with essential opportunities and holistic enrichment.

Father William Treacy was a long time supporter and friend of Sr. Lucy's and invited her to visit and speak to his community multiple times. May 31st would have been his 105th birthday, and we know that he would be delighted to know we are celebrating his birthday by spending time with and supporting his dear friend Sr Lucy Kurien.

Donate: USGivingtoMaher.org

Learn more: MaherAshram.org

To learn more about Sr Lucy's 2024 US tour, please visit https://givebutter.com/RhC5kJ

5/31 Sr Lucy Kurien Presentation & Reception at Camp Korey

learn about this holistic, interfaith and caste-free approach to healing poverty and violence across India