PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Fr. Nehru Stephen Savayaria, HGN, is a native of Tamil Nadu, India, located about 8,000 miles from his current home in the Parish of the Precious Blood, which serves Caribou, Presque Isle and surrounding areas.
He is a priest of the Heralds of Good News and has adapted to his new environment since arriving in 2016. But that doesn’t mean he’s lost a taste for his favorite dishes from home or the special pride he has in sharing culinary treasures from India with new friends.
Fr. Nehru Stephen Savayaria, HGN, prepares traditional Indian dishes to serve Sunday, March 24. Lawrence Willette of Limestone won the six-course meal in a raffle to benefit the Parish of the Precious Blood’s faith formation programs.
(Courtesy of the Diocese of Portland)
As part of a raffle held to benefit the parish’s faith formation program, Fr. Nehru Stephen offered to prepare a six-course meal featuring traditional dishes served in India at weddings and celebrations. Tickets were sold for one dollar or interested parties could buy six tickets for five dollars.
“Over 2,000 entries came in,” said Stella Carlstrom, the parish catechetical leader. “Everyone wanted to win.”
The winner, Lawrence Willette of Limestone, was asked to invite nine guests for the meal, which was prepared and served at the rectory of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Presque Isle on Sunday, March 24.
Fr. Stephen presented the six courses with an explanation of each and instructions on how it was traditionally eaten in India.
In addition to the winner and their guests, Fr. Agustin Sebasthiyan, another priest of the Heralds of Good News serving at the parish, and Fr. David Raymond, pastor of the parish, joined the gathering to enjoy the meal.
“Every dish was received with oohs and ahhs and quickly disappeared,” said Carlstrom. “Second and third servings were accepted as well. The fellowship was an added bonus. Nobody left hungry. It was an evening to remember.”
All of the proceeds from the raffle will go towards updating the parish’s faith formation resources and equipment.
The parish serves Holy Rosary Church, Caribou; Sacred Heart Church, Caribou; Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Presque Isle; Our Lady of the Lake Church, Portage; St. Catherine Church, Washburn; St. Denis Church, Fort Fairfield; St. Joseph Church, Mars Hill; St. Louis Church, Limestone; St. Mark Church, Ashland; and St. Theresa Church, Stockholm.
Submitted by the Communications Office of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.
