From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 26: Over 150 priests, nuns and lay volunteers under the inspired leadership of the Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Peter Machado have been quietly and systematically involved in the task of helping the large number of poorer sections of the people to overcome the hardships and distress on account of the coronavirus pandemic.

Even before the lockdown was announced, the Archbishop foresaw the problems that the coronavirus or coronavirus pandemic that has taken a huge toll of lives across the world and has plunged the global economy in its worst-ever crisis on the poorer sections and other vulnerable people like migrants and transgenders.

The announcement of the country-wide lockdown as a containment measure enabled the Archbishop to extend the initial arrangements to provide shelter and food to the migrants as well as transgenders in some of the educational institutions in the city on a temporary basis to the poorer sections as well.

The Archdiocese of Bangalore, which comprises the six civil districts of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Ramanagara, sent out appeals through the large number of parishes in the Archdiocese to donors and philanthropists to mobilise funds and materials.

The Archdiocese of Bangalore has distributed food and material assistance to over 13,000 families besides lunch packets during the last three weeks starting from April 2.

Depending on the size of the family and the need, the volunteers of the Archdiocese under the leadership of Fr John Antony, Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier Cathedral Church, and his team of volunteers including priests, nuns and lay youngsters have distributed packets costing roughly Rs 500, Rs 850 and Rs 1,250 to the over 13,000 beneficiaries.

Unsung Warriors

The volunteers, who take part in the packing, loading and all other work connected with the initiative, are using the Paalana Bhavana Pastoral Centre of the Archdiocese as the base for operations. These volunteers, including priests, religious sisters, seminarians and lay youngsters, are indeed the unsung Corona warriors of the Archdiocese doing selfless service and certainly deserve much more than claps as appreciation.

The total value of the food items like rice, wheat flour, sugar, pulses, cooking oil, salt etc. that has been distributed in over 130 areas in different parts of the Archdiocese is over Rs 1.20 crore and the work is continuing.

Temporary shelters are being provided in the designated schools in Bengaluru: St Philomena’s School, Railway Colony; St Joseph’s School, Briand Square; St Xavier’s School, Shivajinagar; Lourdes School, Cubbonpete; Lourdes School, Halasuru.

Groups requiring accommodation are required to contact Fr. Edward Thomas, SDB, Dream India Network.

"We are overwhelmed by the generosity of so many individuals and organisations helping us in reaching help to people on the peripheries and more importantly, the socially ostracized,’’ the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop feels it is not safe for organizing the distribution of food in a big way and also the logistical problems, including coordination with the police and other official authorities, efforts are being made to help the genuinely needy and poorer sections.

The Archdiocese received Rs 87,89,174 in cash and another Rs 31,34,550 worth of foodgrains and other items.

"In times of such despair and hopelessness, we have not lost hope. Our specific focus is also on migrant workers who are jobless, the homeless sick and even ailing on the roadsides. The dark clouds may loom large over us, but there is the radiant heart of God above those clouds,’’ the Archbishop said making it clear that the initiative will continue perhaps even after May 3 depending upon the situation.

Fr Naveen Joseph, Director of the Bangalore Multi-purpose Social Service Society (BMSSS), is coordinating with the donors and the hapless poor. "In these days of suffering, love surfaces much more from generous people,’’ he said adding that contributions to the exercise are duly acknowledged with issuance of receipts.