Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 17: “Quoting the words of St Bernard, Pope Francis recently said that we should always listen to the poor. In my experience as the bishop of Mangalore for the past six years, poverty is not limited to financial difficulties alone. Loneliness, family separations, and abandonment also constitute poverty," opined Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore. He was addressing students and parents after inaugurating the Michael D’Souza and Family Educare Endowment (Revolving) Fund and disbursing interest-free educational loans to deserving students pursuing higher education at Mother Teresa Hall, CODP, Nanthoor.
The bishop further added, “There is a saying that a nation without a vision perishes. Similarly, a community needs a vision to combat poverty. Our Savior Jesus Christ has provided us with that vision, and there is no reason to lose hope. The foundation laid on Peter is strong enough." Congratulating Michael D’Souza and his family members Flavia D’Souza, daughters Nisha, Rochell, and son Manu, the bishop compassionately remarked, "The Michael D’Souza family is a ray of hope in the upliftment of the underprivileged in our community and society. His firm belief in ‘empowering through education’, initiated back in 2013, has produced doctors, engineers, and other professionals, empowering thousands of families. Over the last 11 years, 3,300 students have benefited from the Educare programme under Michael D’Souza through CODP. He is a source of inspiration to many, and society will remember his pioneering role in the movement of empowerment through education."
On this occasion, Flavia D’Souza, along with Nisha D’Souza, handed over a cheque of Rs 75,00,000 to the bishop. The event was graced by the presence of Michael D’Souza trust advisor, Fr Valerian D'Souza, CODP assistant director Fr Lawrence Cutinha, and CODP director Fr Vincent D’Souza.
Bishop Saldanha symbolically distributed scholarships to three deserving students during the event, and in total, 84 students will receive Rs 74,42,000, as mentioned by Fr Vincent D’Souza in his introductory welcome address. The programme commenced with a prayer song led by CODP staff. Fr Vincent D’Souza also welcomed the gathering and introduced the guests on the dais.
Flavia D’Souza, Nisha D’Souza, Fr Valerian D’Souza, Stephen Pinto, Oswald Rodrigues, Henry D’Souza, and Lionel Aranha were honoured by the bishop with a shawl and a garden plant on behalf of CODP.
On behalf of the Michael D’Souza family, Nisha, daughter of Michael D’Souza, expressed gratitude to the diocese of Mangalore and CODP for giving their family the opportunity to participate in the mission of spreading empathy and love through charity.
Quoting lines from a popular song by Mathew West, Nisha said, "God has created us to do something, especially to carry on His mission of sharing and caring. We received the values of sharing and caring from our parents and grandparents. After being blessed with a special child in our family, we learned even more about empathy and caring."
Referencing Luke 16:10, she added, “’The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great’. If we, as a community, decide to contribute whatever little we can toward uplifting the underprivileged around us, we can make this world a better place."
The bishop urged students to be grateful for receiving interest-free educational loans and encouraged them to repay the loans systematically to maintain the revolving fund. The programme was compered by Richard Alvares, a member of the Educare committee, and Reena D’Costa, Educare coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks.