CAMP DEOLALI, NASIK, India, Dec. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing in the Episcopalian Activist mission of Katrina's Dream, founders and Diocese of California (Marin County) residents William Swanson and Helene de Boissiere-Swanson went on a good will mission to Northern India to extend love and support to the Garrison Church, in Camp Deolali, Diocese of Nasik, Church of North India for the Christmas season. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121227/SF34638)

They headed over to India after receiving a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowen Williams, following the St. Nicolas Day Parade at Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, England.

William and Helene arrived in India on December 12 at Mumbai Sahara Airport, where they were greeted by the Rev. Magdaliya Kamble, the first woman priest in the Church of North India, their hosts at Garrison Church, Camp Deolali, where they stayed with Sister Magda, her husband, the Rt. Rev. Pradip Lemuel Kamble, Bishop of Nasik, and their family in the parsonage, sharing their lives and customs over the holidays. 

William and Helene conducted Matins at Garrison Church, participated in the funeral of Lt. Col. George Raju, and preached at the Watchnight (December 24^th) and Christmas services, becoming acquainted with local parishioners and their issues.

The first few days in Nasik were tension-filled, as they addressed the issue of those who were making it uncomfortable for Believers to attend services at Garrison Church. William and Helene met with the local police authorities, and with their assistance, it appears that much has been resolved.

Garrison Church in Camp Deolali primarily serves the Cantonment Board of the Army of India and its soldiers and is part of the Church of North India, and is served by Bishop Pradip and the Rev. Magdaliya Kamble.

Bishop Pradip proposed to William and Helene Swanson that he and his wife Rev. Magda Kamble take on the role of running Katrina's Dream-India under the Swansons' guidance and direction, as he wishes to set up a "caravan" and travel throughout India to various dioceses, promoting the full inclusion of women, and other social justice issues specific to India.  He stated that the Church of North India is experiencing strong growth throughout the country.

On December 21, 2012, an Inaugural service commemorating this new partnership, naming Rev. Magda Kamble, Chaplain of Deolali, as Director of Katrina's Dream-India.  The Rev. Magda Kamble stated, "Katrina's Dreams works for 'beyond gender'.  The Samaritan woman, Mary anointing Jesus' feet, Jesus' empowering visits to Mary and Martha's house, Jesus' calling to Mary Magdalene with his utmost first appearance to give message to his disciples of his Resurrection and gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day to women and men has proved Jesus' ministry has cut across the gender bias. The church hierarchy on Jesus' footprints sustained the gender equality in serving the 'Word of God', i.e. Bible women, Sunday school teachers, deacons and now as presbyters and bishops.  The Church has proved Herself beyond the gender, overcomes 'evil eye' towards men and women that hinders to serve the 'Word of God' and marches forward to bring men and women under one umbrella of 'God's Kingdom'. Jesus Christ promoted men and women's hand-in-hand ministry as a matter of religious warfare so that neither men nor women fall apart of God's mercies while living on this.  Jesus' Ministry of 'beyond the gender' cleans the faces of confusions, emotions, darkness, helplessness and many more that degenerates the humanity.  Jesus Christ always looked ahead sustaining the 'Image of God' in men and women that shall give good stewardship to His SEVEN DAYS' Creation."

In addition, Katrina's Dream will be donating computers to Garrison Church, to aid with their communication, help build solidarity with others in the Anglican Communion and outside world, and to help educate local children.  This program "Computers 4 Children" has already gathered some local support from various individuals affiliated with the Barnes School in Deolali and colleges in the area.

Katrina's Dream is an umbrella organization rooted in the Anglican tradition of the Christian Church, and growing out of the lifelong dream of the late Rev. Katrina Martha+ Van Alstyne Welles Swanson, William Swanson's mother. Katrina Swanson beseeched Helene to champion the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment in the last year of her life.  She was one of the first eleven women to be ordained priests in the Episcopal Church, in 1974, and her faith motivated her to dream of the full inclusion of women in society throughout her country and the world. The organization's website has resources on language for justice, words for worship, support for prisoners, a school integrated in a sustainable village in Botswana, indigenous women in America, poetry, equal rights, sharing food and fellowship, etc. It was launched the night of her death when a hurricane bearing her name hit the city of New Orleans.

For further information contact: 

Helene de Boissiere-Swanson, Founder, Katrina's Dream
Phone : +1(415)233-2049
Email :                  helene@katrinasdream.org
Website:              http://www.katrinasdream.org

Links :  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan_Williams 
http://www.stnicholasfestival.org.uk/ 
http://www.facebook.com/magda.kamble?fref=ts 
http://www.cnisynod.org/ 
http://nasikdiocese.org/?D=59 
http://garrisonchurch.weebly.com/contact-us.html 
http://www.cbdeolali.org.in/ 
http://youtu.be/77x6DvqI4dM 
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ 
http://www.katrinasdream.org/vocation-vacation/320-2/ 
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/sep/03/local/me-swanson3 
http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/supportorgs.htm

SOURCE Katrina's Dream