- Howrah, West-Bengal 🇮🇳
Father Francis Laborde (also known as François Laborde) was a French Catholic priest renowned for his lifelong commitment to children and disadvantaged communities in Kolkata, India. As the founder of Howrah South Point (HSP), he dedicated his entire life to fighting poverty, marginalisation, and social exclusion.
Born in France in 1927, Father Laborde felt from a young age a deep calling to serve the poor. Ordained a priest in 1955, he joined the Prado Fraternity, where he grew in the conviction that Christ is present wherever the poorest are. This spirituality—rooted in simplicity and closeness to those in need—led him to India in the 1960s.
In Howrah, on the outskirts of Kolkata, he encountered extreme poverty: children in the streets, abandoned sick people, families without a home. Instead of being discouraged, he chose to live among them, sharing their daily life in order to serve them more fully.
In 1973, he founded City of Joy, which later became Howrah South Point—a non-profit organisation providing shelter, education, medical care, and social support to children with disabilities, abandoned children, and those from vulnerable backgrounds. His hope: to restore human dignity to those society overlooks.
HSP’s first health dispensary was established in 1976 in the heart of the slums. Supported by European volunteers and staff, it prioritised children with disabilities—far too often neglected or excluded. Over the years, HSP expanded its services, and the number of people supported grew dramatically.
Father Laborde’s goal was not simply to create a medical facility, but a true community of life—where children and adults, volunteers and residents, disabled and able-bodied people could grow together in respect and fraternity.
Under his leadership, Howrah South Point became a network of homes, specialised schools, vocational training workshops, and medical centres. Today, the organisation supports more than 1,000 beneficiaries each year in the Kolkata region, and its work has expanded west and north across West Bengal.
« We do not change the world by talking about poverty—we change it by loving the poor. »
— Father Francis Laborde
Father Laborde’s dedication has been recognised both in India and internationally. In 1993, he was awarded the French title of “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” for his humanitarian work. In 2019, he was promoted to “Officier de la Légion d’Honneur”, the highest French distinction—presented to him with pride by the French Ambassador to India, acknowledging his remarkable work for India’s most vulnerable communities.
Despite the honours, he always remained true to his mission: to live simply, among the people he served.
Father Laborde inspired generations of volunteers, social workers, and young people around the world. His mission continues today under the leadership of Father Laurent Bissara, who carries forward his message of compassion, justice, and universal love.
