Panjim: Having played a key role in society through education, healthcare and social service, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman under the Guidance of Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, has been quick to reach out to needy people affected by the lockdown in the State.
Caritas Goa had requested the clergy, religious and laity in the archdiocese to extend assistance by delivering aid and care to people in need, including migrants.
Responding to the appeal, several churches and chapels mobilised manpower and resources to support the needy, poor and migrants, irrespective of caste, creed and community.
St Inez (Panaji) Parish Priest Fr Albano Fernandes said a small “St Inez Outreach Group”, formed to assist the needy and elderly, provided groceries to 37 families, poor families on daily wages and migrant families.
Colvale Parish Priest Fr Januario Da Costa got some nurses to distribute medicines to the needy, while the Guirim Parish led by Fr. Anand Da Gama, provided food to about 400 needy people in the village.
Stella Maris Chapel (Miramar) Chaplain Fr Barry Cardozo said their Small Christian Community ward leaders ordered and delivered essential supplies to the home-bound, elderly, poor and those living alone.
Siridao Parish Priest Fr Valerian Vaz said the parish worked closely with panchayat members to distribute food packets worth to houses in the village, while helping the deserving and poor.
Carmona Assistant Parish Priest Fr Rosario Oliveira said the parish distributed essential items to 25 needy families, besides supporting them to meet their daily needs.
At Orlim, Parish Priest Fr Roger (Raju) Godinho said parishioners made 1,600 masks in three days and distributed them free to all houses in the parish. Vegetables were distributed, while the parish has, so far, helped about 36 families, comprising locals, construction workers, rag-pickers, daily wage and domestic workers.
At the Borda Chapel (Margao), Chaplain Fr Simon D’Cunha said food was cooked daily for over 300 people and distributed among needy located across Margao.
Stating that catechists helped in cooking/packing the food and the Carmel Seva Mandir Convent offered its kitchen to cook food, he said groceries were given to 400 families while 9 stranded Gujarat migrants were given rations.
At Loutolim, Parish Priest Fr Ligorinho D’Costa said PPC members coordinated between houses and store owners to home-deliver groceries. He requested ration cardholders who do not collect their rations to buy their rations and donate it to the church, to be distributed to the needy.
St. John the Baptist Church (Benaulim), Parish Priest Fr Lucio Dias and his assistants distributed rations to over 100 families, while monetary aid was later distributed to individuals (Rs 500) and families (Rs 2,000).
At Agonda, Parish Priest Fr Romeo D’Silva supervised the distribution of supplies to 16 migrant families for a week, while at Sanvordem, Parish Priest Fr Vital Miranda monitored the distribution of groceries to 18 families. The Nagoa (Salcete) Church also provided groceries to the needy.
At Chaudi-Canacona, Parish Priest Fr Isidore Dias said essential groceries were given to 5 needy parishioners, while 10 migrant families living under the flyovers were given groceries. Besides, 12 families regularly helped by SSVP were given double the rations, plus Rs 1,000 per family.
At Bogmalo, Parish Priest Fr Lourdinho Pereira said 40 families were provided with groceries through a well-wisher, while Desterro (Vasco) Parish Priest Fr Anthony Rodrigues said groceries were distributed to over 200 families with the help of Mormugao counsellors and social workers.
Director of Pastoral Institute (Old Goa) Fr Simiao Fernandes said they also reached out to migrants in the area.
SFX Church Chicalim, under Guidance of Fr. Bolmax Pereira, with the slogan “No One Goes Hungry” continue coordinating with Panchayat members, well-wishers, and PPC members to give daily essentials to needy in Chicalim-Dabolim Area.
Besides these there are many other churches and chapels which are reaching out to the needy.
The Church in Goa has been catering not only to spiritual needs of its faithful, in this difficult times, but also to the essential needs of people irrespective of caste , creed and religion. Thus witnessing to its faith through the message of Love and brotherhood amongst all.