Faith Amidst Floods: Priest Braves Waters to Save Holy Communion in Vijayawada

Vijaywada, September 2, 2024: Vijayawada is reeling from its worst flooding in decades, with non-stop rains since Saturday causing severe waterlogging throughout the city.  

Almost 2.76 lakh people are stranded in their homes without electricity, food or water as the river Krishna overflowed, submerging entire neighborhoods.  

Amidst this chaos, a remarkable act of faith emerged when a parish priest risked his life to save the Holy Communion from inside a flooded church.  

Fr. Chinnappa Merugumala, the parish priest of Infant Jesus Catholic Church in Vijaywada, accompanied by two others, braved chest-deep waters to venture into the inundated Church and retrieve the Holy Eucharist.  

The priest's selfless act ensured the sacredness of the communion was preserved, even in the face of natural disaster. 

The government is coordinating with agencies to mete out relief and rescue operations even as streets have turned into rivers, social life has come to a standstill and depleting supplies. 

Amidst these challenges, the priest's heroic act has become a symbol of hope and perseverance for the city’s residents and the Catholic community.

By Fr. Suresh Mathew