Daijiworld News Network  - Mangalore (MB)

Mangalore, Nov 28: In commemoration and continuation of the charity work of their mother Marceline Mendonca of Vamanjoor, Mangalore, her sons Lawrence, Richard and James, along with their families, have established the "Mendonca Educational Fund", aimed at educating the underprivilege children of Vamanjoor parish.

The main motto of the fund is providing assistance in education of deserving and needy children in pursuing technical and professional courses. The Mendoncas firmly believe that by providing education, they make way for such children's families' self-sustenance, which, in turn, would provide security and ensure their social and economic progress.

The initial fund has been established with an amount of Rs 12 lac. Depending on future need, the fund will be enhanced as and when necessary.

The fund was launched on November 26 in St Joseph the Worker church in Vamanjoor at the hands of parish priest Fr A D'Lima. Richard Mendonca and Shobha Mendonca represented the family members on the occasion.

Fr D'Lima gratefully recalled the generous contribution made by the Mendonca family during the renovation of the church building five years ago, and also towards other beneficial projects and in helping the poor. He also expressed happiness over the setting up of the fund during the Silver Jubilee celebration of the parish. He appealed to the parishioners to make use of the facility available and benefit from it.

On behalf of the family, Richard Mendonca said a long-cherished dream of the family had been fulfilled with the establishment of the fund and thanked the parish priest for his encouragement and support. He said the fund was meant for the benefit of Vamanjoor parishioners who would otherwise lose educational opportunities for want of financial resources. He also assured that the corpus fund would be strengthened during the coming years. He also thanked Junifer and Charles in their initiative in helping in establishing the fund.

Assistant parish priest Fr Sunil Viegas and parish pastoral council vice president Doreen D'Cunha were present on the occasion. A local committee will be formed to look after the administrative work of the fund. The parish priest of Vamanjoor will be the spiritual director. The Vamanjoor parishioners will be provided with more details regarding the procedure for availing themselves of the facility in due course.

Charles Pais compered the programme.