Louis Rodrigues –
Belgaum: “That they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” so goes the quote from the Holy Bible which is the motto of Hope Recovery Centre at Peeranwadi, Belagavi.
Salutation to Fr Pradeep Correa, Director of the Centre on his Golden Birthday today.
As a Claretian priest serving in the Diocese of Belagavi, he has been on a very tough mission since last 13 years. Fr Pradeep Correa, the determined director of Hope Recovery Centre at Peerandwadi, Belagavi, who has cured large number of Goan addicts is celebrating his golden birthday today.
Fr Correa a devoted and prayerful priest is sought after by scores of families across Belagavi and Goa region and has brought hopes in lives of several families hopeless families. A teetotaller and blessed with jovial nature Fr Pradeep has been serving Hope Recovery Centre since 2010 and has brought in transformation of liquor addicts . People of every religion, caste and creed visit Hope Centre that has treated over 1000 people from Goa alone with a very higher success rate.
“I have committed myself to this cause because alcoholism and drug addiction have destroyed many youngsters and families . Along with my staff we are deeply concerned about the patients who are admitted at the Centre. We give a lot of importance to them, understand their background, their problems and reason why they get addicted and based on that we try to help them to cope up with the problems,” Fr Correa said.
About 300 patients are treated at Hope Centre every year with the rising success rate of about 80 %,” Fr Correa told The Goan, he added. Fr Correa believes that service to humanity is service to God.
Certainly it’s a big challenge for Fr Correa who has many face huge problems; however, he has overcome all with his goodwill and grit. With this he has won several accolades from across section of society.
The Centre is so well equipped that people admitted here get comfortable with the ambience, trained staff and the excellent daily routine, a parent of a youngster admitted here told The Goan.
“After rising demand from Goa, we have set up a well equipped de addiction centre at Colvale in Goa which will be inaugurated around March next year,” Fr Correa said.
Photo: Fr Pradeep Correa, Director, Hope Recovery Centre, Belagavi