House of Onions

Brothers and Sisters:

Greetings and prayerful wishes to you and your families in the Blessed Name of the Infant Jesus and his and our Holy Mother Mary. It is an honor and privilege to present to you "The House of Onions" center for HIV/AIDS infected and orphaned children. I am Father Yeruva Lourdu Marreddy, Sr, an ordained Priest in the Diocese of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, South India for over 25 years. I have spent 8 years as a Parish Priest, 5 years at both teaching and administration in our Diocesan College and 2 years as Secretary to the Bishop of Guntur. Most recently, I was assigned to the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico (USA) and spent 3 years as Pastor in the Diocese of Tortuna, (Province of Pavia), Italy. I have returned home and am currently Pastor in my original Diocese. My mission, and the mission of House of Onions, is to provide care and the necessities of life to orphans and children with HIV/AIDS. We will care for them and provide them with as near normal a life as possible.

Watch the interview

Naming The House of Onions

Where to begin? Several years ago, while celebrating Mass in my home Diocese, a woman brought a bowl of onions up during the offertory. Following Mass, she approached me, very broken, and explained that this small offering was for her son. “Father”, she said, “onions bring out the flavor in all food preparation. You, too, bring out the best in your Parish by blessing us with the Holy Mass and Communion. I am hoping you can provide some comfort for my son in the future, as my doctor has told me I will soon be dead from the HIV/AIDS virus. My husband has already passed away and my son will certainly die from this disease before many years go by.”

She passed away within four months, leaving her son to my care. With the help of the Sisters in the Church, we were able to care for him until he, also, passed away at the age of six. However, this sad story gave birth to an idea that I am now pursuing - a home for children caught up in a terrifying nightmare with no one to care for them. With personal savings, I have purchased land in my home province and am now looking to build a home to shelter and provide for at least thirty such orphaned children. With your assistance and God’s Grace, this can be done!