Pics – Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – (WD)
Udupi, Jan 13: Milagres home for the aged, managed and run by ‘The Mangalorean Milagres Society’ Mumbai was inaugurated at Pangala on Saturday, January 13 by Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA of Kaup.
Prior to the inauguration ceremony, Fr Stany Tauro, Dean, Shirva Denary, inaugurated the Chapel, while Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop, Diocese of Udupi blessed the new Chapel and presided over the Holy Eucharistic Celebration.
Celebrity choreographer and Judge Terrence Lewis praised the Milagres society for the philanthropic works undertaken by them.
“I am overwhelmed to be part this programme and I am proud to be a Mangalurean,” he said. Terrance said that the society had helped his father Xavier Lewis by providing him shelter and he was also able to secure a good job, which in turn helped him to give good education to his son and a secure life for his family.
“I am really grateful to Milagres Society that they had provided service to the young people then and today they are providing shelter to the old. The whole circle of life is complete. Milagres Home has cared for many young people and has given dignity to them and today they are giving dignity to the old by providing them a home,” Terrence said.
Minister for youth affairs and sports, fisheries and Udupi district in-charge Pramod Madhwaraj said, “Under leadership of Udupi diocese Bishop nearly 12 churches have been renovated in Udupi district. I have attended almost all church inaugurations but this programme has yielded more happiness as an old age home is built,”
“There are heartbreaking instances when children send their parents to aged homes even though they can look after them. Such attitude should not be encouraged,” he said.
However, he added that aged homes are very helpful in cases children live far away and are unable to look after parents even if they want to. Milagres Society has set an example for doing something for the senior citizens, he said and hoped the society will turn more caring towards the old.
In his Presidential speech, Bishop of Udupi Diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo said, “Mangalurean Milagres Society has come a long way. It has provided shelter to the people who are far away from their homes and are supporting their families. They also provided education to the children and helped them to build their future. And today they have built a beautiful place for old people and have given it to the society. We have 7 old age homes in our diocese and are managed by the nuns but this is the first old age home which will be managed by the lay persons,”
“I always say this diocese is a rich one not monetary terms but because of its resources and people. When along with the diocese lay people join their hands to provide such social services, then we can build a better society. One among the ten commandants is to respect our parents and even our Pope has given the call for the same,” bishop added.
“Let us give the first place to our parents at home, and let us not neglect our parents but serve them with love and look after them well. Only when it is impossible to look after them, then only let us take the help of these institutions but let us not forget to care for them,“ bishop said.
On the occasion, contractors Arun Shet Architecture and Ujwal D’souza, Managing Director, Marian Infrastructure Mangaluru were honoured.
Welcome song was sung by the choir team of St John Evangelist church.
Leslie Aroza compered the programme. Fr Stephen D’Souza presided over the rituals, Angelo D’Souza, welcomed the gathering, Terence Gomes given the brief history of Mangalurean Milagres society.
Fr Stany B Lobo, Rector, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Fr Denis D’Sa, PRO, Diocese of Udupi, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Parish priest St John the Evangelist Church, Pangala, Fr Ronson D’Souza, parish priest, St Vincent De Paul Church, Fr Jeffry D’Souza, Fr Leslie D’Souza also took part in the performing the Holy Mass.
In the formal function Frank Lewis, President, Mangalorean Milagres Society, Charles Pereira, Secretary, Mangalorean Milagres Society, Shobha, President, Kurkalu Gram Panchayat, Geethanjali Suvarna, Member, Zilla Panchayat, Wilson Rodrigues, Zilla Panchayat and others were present.
For More information contact
The Mangalorean Milagres Society
Milagres House, 81 Hill Road,
Bandra (W), Mumbai
Contact 0091 98704 66339 / 98337 95127.