Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 13: A week after the grand but meaningful celebration of YCS Convention in the diocese, the Diocesan Central Council along with the office bearers from 12 deaneries celebrated the ‘Cardijn Charity Day’ in a unique and practical manner on November 11 and 12. The event was organized at the occasion of the 135th birth and 50th death anniversary of the inspirational founder of YCS/YSM, Servant of God Cardinal Joseph Cardijn.
Accordingly the team of 30 YCS members spent the November 11 evening at Aloysian Boys’ Home, Ullal spending time with the little boys with food, games and sing songs. Prayer and camp fire were also a part of that evening. The Charity Nuns in the house welcomed us warmly and made them feel at home.
On November 12 till noon the members spent time at Paschim Rehabilitation Centre, Ullal, where nearly a hundred poor and sick inmates are taken care by Rohith. The YCS members listened to the inmates, did house cleaning, washing the clothes, massaging the sick, nail trimming, brushing, shaving etc and thus spent time fruitfully helping the sick and needy. At 11.30 am, Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr Dr J B Saldanha the parish priest of St Sebastian Church, Permannur and dean of Mangalore South Deanery. He explained the Word of God to the members and also appreciated them for a unique initiative of such Charity Day by the YCS. The lunch was also sponsored by the YCS members finding some donors for this good cause.
In the afternoon, the team moved to the St Zuze Vaz and St Antony’s Senior Priests’ Homes at Jeppu Mangalore. The members spent time talking to the 25 senior priests and thanking them for their service in the past and assuring the prayers for them. Again a high tea was organized for the inmate priests by the YCS members and mementos were presented.
Thus the time was spent in three fold charity activities by the representatives of Young Catholic Students (YCS) in the Diocese of Mangalore from which the students learned and expressed the noble value of Charity in a unique and practical way.
Jeswita Princy Quadras, national YCS president, Queenie Mariya D’Costa, diocesan YCS president, Prajwal Sequeira, diocesan YCS animator, Lavita Rolita D’Souza, Mervin Pais, Mervin Vas, and Viola D’Souza guided and accompanied the members. Fr Rupesh Madtha, diocesan director for YCS/YSM organized the entire programme and accompanied
the members all through.