Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 14: The silver jubilee of the Mangaluru unit of the Prison Ministry India (PMI) held at Infant Jesus shrine at Bikarnakatte on Tuesday August 13, evoked a good response from volunteers from almost all the units of Karnataka taking part in the day-long celebrations.

The celebrations began with the holy mass in which Mangalore diocese Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha and Shimoga diocese Bishop Dr Francis Serrao were the main celebrants. PMI co-founder and CBCI secretary to PMI Fr Francis Kodiyan, Fr Sylvester D’Souza OCD, provincial superior, Discalced Carmelite Karnataka -Goa province, Fr Melwyn D’Cunha OCD, superior, St Joseph’s Monastery and Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte, and former co-ordinators among others were present.

In his homily, Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha explained the theme of the silver jubilee, ‘You are not alone’ and called upon the volunteers to reach out to the marginalized in the society. He also highlighted that the prison can be a place where people can hope for a new vision of life.

The silver jubilee stage celebrations began with a beautiful invocation dance performed by the students of St Agnes School at Bendoor. It was followed by the unveiling of PMI logo in a unique way, wherein guests fixed the pieces of the logo on a plank to form the complete logo.

Later the dignitaries lighted a lamp. They included Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Dr Francis Serrao, chief guest Sheena Shetty, PMI co-founder Fr Francis Kodiyan, PMI state co-ordinator Sr Therese Mascarenhas, PMI Mangaluru spiritual director Fr Rayan Pinto and PMI Mangaluru co-ordinator Jerome Lobo among others.

Soon after the inauguration, two released prisoners - S Shetty and J P D’Souza shared their experiences as to how they were comforted by the PMI volunteers, when they were in the prison. While Shetty spent 4 years in prison, D’Souza spent more than one year in the Mangaluru prison, before they were released on bail. Incidentally, the PMI volunteers rehabilitated them soon after their release as the family members of both refused to accept them.

Their sharing was followed by a sharing on the challenges being faced by the PMI volunteers - by PMI state co-ordinator Sr Therese Mascarenhas.

Later, PMI Mangaluru secretary Dr Tressie Menezes presented an attractive audio-visual report on the journey of PMI Mangaluru in the last 25 years - right from its inception in September 1999 till date.

The chief guest, Jana Shikshana Trust founder and DK district former Ombudsman Sheena Shetty lauded the efforts of PMI and its volunteers. He applauded the service rendered by the PMI, stating that it’s a divine call to do this mission in the present context of the world. He also emphasised the need to focus on cleanliness and combating atrocities against women and weaker section. He also suggested that the PMI should work towards freeing society from substance abuse.

This was followed by honouring the founder members of the Mangaluru unit of PMI – Dr Wilfred Rodrigues (Founder co-ordinator), founder members Sr Dominica, former mayor P M Castelino, Molly Kamath and Dulcin Sequeira.

Later, PMI Mangaluru unit co-ordinators Dr Wilfred Rodrigues OCD, Fr Lancy Lewis OCD, Fr Elias D’Souza OCD and Fr Prakash D’Cunha were felicitated. Two past co-ordinators – Fr John Alex Pinto OCD, Fr Boniface D’Souza OCD, Fr Walter D’Souza OCD and Fr Stephen Lobo OCD could not make it due to their prior commitments.

Yet another unique event of the silver jubilee celebrations was providing scholarships to 25 students of prisoners. As there were lack of sufficient number of students in Mangalore, needy students from Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Ballari and Kalaburagi were considered for the scholarship. Each student was given a cheque for Rs 10,000 each to support their studies.

This was followed by the silver jubilee souvenir release by and Mangalore diocese Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha and Fr Francis Kodiyan. Giving details about the same, souvenir editor Ronald Anil Fernandes gave details on the difficulties and joys encountered in bringing out the souvenir, its content and the messages it contains.

In his speech, Fr Kodiyan compared the PMI Mangaluru unit volunteers to Irish Catholics, who excel in all the fields they encounter with. Terming the Mangalureans as intelligent and resourceful, he called upon the volunteers not to limit their potential to Mangaluru alone, but to reach out the PMI community all over the nation.

Subsequently, former co-ordinators of Mangaluru unit of PMI were felicitated by the bishop. Out of the 8 past co-ordinators - 6 including founder Dr Wilfred Rodrigues OCD, Fr Lancy Lewis OCD, Fr Elias D’Souza OCD, Fr Prakash D’Cunha and the present spiritual director Fr Rayan Pinto were present. Fr John Alex Pinto OCD and Fr Boniface D’Souza could not make it as they are based in Canada and South Africa at present continuing their missionary activities.

Mangaluru prison superintendent B T Obaleshappa and donor Pascal Monteiro were felicitated on the occasion.

Presiding over the silver jubilee celebrations, Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha called upon the PMI volunteers to continue their mission as there are a number of prisoners who look forward for little help. “A large number of people are suffering in prison due to lack of money or influence even to get bail,” he said and added that PMI has been a ray of hope in the lives of many prisoners. Elaborating on the theme ‘You are not alone…,’ he lauded the efforts of PMI volunteers.

PMI Mangaluru unit co-ordinator Jerome Lobo proposed a vote of thanks.