b'PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DISTRICT OF INDIA MARIANIST BROTHERS.SORT OF NORMALMarianists schools, ministries reopen in India By Dave LueckingTop: Marianist Brother Victor T his past spring, Marianist Father Sudhir Kujur, Its been a long time since thats been the case, moreSahayaraj, the program directorof REDS-Patna, supervises the superior for the District of India, spent three than two years after the novel coronavirus shut downthe distribution of stationery weeks traveling through northern India, spending the world in March of 2020. But the re-opening of products on March 18, 2022 in Patna, Bihar, India. long days touring the districts ministries, schools and society doesnt mean that life magically has returnedparishes. He also presided over the ceremony of young100 percentto normal. Not by a long shot. Right: Marianist Brother Britto brothers making first vows. Our children really suffered because they areMurmu provides monthlyIn many ways, the trek was much like his previous poor, Father Kujur said, noting that children inprovisions through REDS in Ranchi, Jharkhand, ontrips north, before the COVID-19 pandemic upended Indias prosperous cities could afford the easy shiftDec. 20, 2021. society on a global scale. He described the trip as sort to online studies. Not so in some areas served by theof normal.almost like before COVID. Marianiststhe rural states of Jharkhand, BiharAlmost everything is open, he said by phone in and Odisha. early May after returning to the district offices in We had some well-to-do schools and institutionsBangalore, Karnataka, a state in southern India. COVID that could afford online classes, but the poor schoolsregulations and lockdowns are not as strict as before.our students cannot afford a smartphone, so no way,Almost all public transportation is running.The they cannot have online classes, he said. Childrenschools are opening, and all of our ministries are operat- could not learn. It was not only us, but most of theing normally. Every one of them is functioning now. institutions in India.10 Call 1.800.348.4732'