By Fr Joshan Rodrigues –
The Catholic Church in the Bombay Archdiocese has been on the frontline of relief efforts ever since the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed mayhem and disrupted normal life. The archdiocese has been proud to be of service through its vast network of churches, hospitals, social work organisations, schools and institutions. Cardinal Oswald Gracias gave a brief review of the outreach work done during his weekly Q&A programme on Sunday, July 12, on the Archdiocese of Bombay YouTube channel.
As soon as the lockdown was announced in March, Cardinal Gracias wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offering the full assistance of the Church across the country. A few days later, Cardinal Gracias participated in a meeting organised by the Prime Minister’s Office, of major relief organisations in the country, including Caritas India and CHAI (Catholic Health Association of India). The Church has been proactively collaborating with various government bodies and authorities ever since.
In the Archdiocese of Bombay, relief efforts have been spearheaded by the Centre for Social Action (CSA), led by Fr Mario Mendes. The CSA, through its partner organizations, has reached 25,000 households till the date of filing this report, distributed 60,000 cooked meals and spent approximately Rs 76 lakh. As soon as the lockdown began, parishes and religious houses also swung into action, chiefly to address the suffering of migrants and daily wage-earners. The archdiocese has so far spent Rs 5.5 crore in the process, providing relief to 1 lakh households and providing 1.5 lakh cooked meals during the months of April and May. This relief effort still continues in some places in Mumbai. Support was also provided by some parishes in Mumbai by way of housing displaced migrants, and providing a temporary residence for police personnel, CRPF and Home Guards.
Cardinal Gracias said that he was proud of the work that had been done so far, and expressed his firm intent of walking with those who have been badly affected by the pandemic. At the diocesan level, a Disaster Management Team has been constituted, comprising heads of various ministries and institutions to coordinate the relief efforts. This team meets regularly to take stock of the current situation and plan future strategies.
The archdiocese is now looking at future challenges that await it in the face of an extended lockdown. Hospitals are struggling with a shortage of medical equipment and medicines, and a shortage of beds, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the city. They are also expected to keep adjusting with frequently changing government norms for hospitals, as the crisis continues. An economic slump seems to be on the horizon, leading to job losses and unemployment. The Church will have to look at how assistance can be provided in the long run to those affected by financial distress.
The archdiocese is also focused in a special way on the Raigad deanery which houses the Missions. Raigad was battered by Cyclone Nisarga, while it was grappling with the coronavirus, which caused significant damage to churches and houses. Food, medicines and financial assistance are challenges in the days ahead.