Rosa Mystica Home For Blind and Deaf Children

In 1983 Madge Tracey, a venturous parishioner from St Mary’s, left Wigan for a holiday in India, intent on seeing the Taj Mahal! That was just a beginning. She loved the experience so much that subsequent holidays found her travelling alone in India to Madras, Bombay and Calcutta where she was moved, not by tourist attractions but by the extreme poverty of the many and by the selfless response of Mother Teresa.

During the regular visits, spurred by compassion, she made contact with Indian aid agencies and did voluntary work in orphanages, convents and leper colonies. Back home in Wigan parishioners, friends and St Vincent de Paul groups heard of her devoted work in India and, unsolicited, gave her donations for the Indian charities she had already contacted.

In her momentous 1993 visit, Madge was travelling alone late in the day and was nearing her destination when she was caught up in a particularly severe monsoon. It was getting dark when she found her route was blocked at a river bridge. By now, off her intended course, she realised that she was lost in Southern India carrying over £1,000 and the precious Rosa Mystica statue. However, there was a light to be seen in the distance and so, with the offer of a kindly Hindu rickshaw owner, she decided to make for this sign of life. To her amazement it was a Catholic church having a Novena service! And that is how she met Fr Baytone, the Parish Priest of St Christianas in the nearby village of Kulithalai. She decided to present them with the statue of Our Lady Rosa Mystica.

Fr Baytone telephoned to Madge’s destination to explain the delay. It turned out that he had spent four years working amongst the poor. He was currently renting a hut in order to house a number of young blind and deaf boys. Village women kindly took care of them during Fr Baytone’s absences but the State was unable to help and there seemed no long term solution to his problems.

Why was Madge, carrying aid from Wigan, finding herself in this remote Indian village at this time? Was it mere chance or was it divine guidance? Either way it was ‘decision’ time for Madge. Some days later, after careful thought, she returned to Fr Baytone. With the cash she was carrying they agreed to open a bank account to be used for the welfare of the children.

After the arrival of more cash from Wigan Fr Baytone suggested that a home be built for the children. It was agreed, he enlisted labour, the home was built and within one year Madge returned to India for the official opening. She cut the ribbon, he blessed it and they named it Rosa Mystica Home. A controlling committee was formed and the necessary staff engaged.

Over the last 12 years there has been continued financial input from Wigan, generated by social functions, private donations and sponsored events. This input together with the constant support of St Mary and St John parish priest, Fr Johnson, and the dedicated skills of Madge Tracey have permitted much needed extensions and facilities