Vijay D’Cunha

Mangaluru, Feb 6: Members of the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP) of Muscat, Oman along with their families paid a memorable visit to a home for the destitute and an orphanage in the city recently with the motto of that a kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.

“Home for aged and destitute and orphanages are an important part of our society as they give aged, destitute and the children the kind of care they need regardless of their family situation. Too often, children find themselves in a situation where they do not have parents to take care of them and elders just without care from their own. The reasons can be many, but at the end the result is the same, they have nowhere to go and no way to get proper care they need. That is why people need to visit home for the destitute and orphanages more often to help the destitute and kids so they do not feel completely left out,” said the visiting committee members.

The day began with the first planned visit to Mother Theresa’s Home for dying destitute situated at Vas lane, Falnir. This was established in the year 1997. Since then, so many dying destitute have experienced the caring and loving touch of Jesus through them. The supervisor whom MCCP members met said, “Our mission is to love. Therefore, our doors are open to destitute, those who are rejected by families due to addiction to drinks, drugs, smoking or other vices, we welcome with open arms those who are sick and bed ridden and are forsaken by the family. At present there are 52 destitute, Catholics, Hindus and Muslims, both rich and poor, men and women. Out of the five sisters in the community, two go for family visits and spend time with them sharing their sorrows and joys, and listen to their woes.”

MCCP members with their families then met all the inmates at the assembly hall, sat with them, spoke to them and spent considerable time in giving them a real feeling of care and extending a new friendship. The inmates seemed very happy and excited. MCCP members also carried with them day today stuff from their own houses, that included rice, coconuts and banana, which they handed over to the administration besides cash of Rs 25,000.

The next visit was to Infant Mary’s children’s home Kulshekar. Founder of Bethany Congregation Fr R F C Mascarenhas established the Infant Mary’s Hostel in Kulshekar in 1943 for children who are economically backward and orphans. According to the vision of founder, Infant Mary’s Hostel provides home for the students specially girls from various parts of Karnataka. The purpose of its establishment is to help them in their education and all-round development. The hostel is aided by the government and gives admission for girls from first to tenth standard.

MCCP members got a live experience of the care and support that was given to the children by the Sisters of Bethany Congregation. MCCP members then handed over cash of Rs 25,000 as a small support towards the noble work undertaken there.

MCCP executive committee members Sunil Furtado, president, Naveen Mascarenhas, vice-president, cultural, spiritual and community services, Francis Pinto, honorary treasurer, Vijai D’Cunha, internal auditor, Terence D’Souza, sports secretary, Suneel Menezes, community services secretary, and their families too joined in the charity mission.

At the end, the whole MCCP group experienced a visit that was not only about short-term happiness; it was about a life-long lesson about how one should never take things for granted.