Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the Catholic Church across India immediately mobilised its vast network of social outreach institutions to reach out to the most vulnerable groups that would be affected by the lockdown.
The COVID 19 pandemic has particularly hit hard at the vast unorganised informal workforce in India, with daily opportunities of work and livelihood earnings disappearing rapidly. Faced with an uncertain future, normalcy is unlikely to return immediately after the lockdown is lifted, and hence, immediate as well as long term accompaniment is vital as we reach out to these vulnerable sections of society.
In the Archdiocese of Bombay, Cardinal Oswald Gracias has also set up a Crisis Management Team to swiftly analyse and respond to the changing scenario on a daily basis. His Eminence has also appealed to all Churches within the Archdiocese, not to terminate any staff and ensure that salaries are paid, even if they do not work during the lockdown.
In the Archdiocese of Bombay, the Centre for Social Action (CSA) which is the Social Outreach arm of the archdiocese, has led the relief efforts from the forefront, responding to His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias’ clarion call to place the church’s resources at the service of the poor and needy. The CSA, through its network of partner organisations across Raigad, Thane and Mumbai has till date reached out to over 3000 households with essential supplies totally amounting to Rs 25 lakhs, made available by the archdiocese through the Archbishop’s Office. The beneficiaries include daily wage earners, tribals, migrants, the elderly, members of the trans-gender community, ragpickers and other vulnerable persons irrespective of their religious faith or ethnic origins.
His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias is in regular contact with the Chief Minister’s Office in Maharastra and the PMO, New Delhi, offering full co-operation and assistance on behalf of the Catholic Church in India. Cardinal Gracias has repeatedly called for respecting government directives with regard to the lockdown and social distancing measures. A COVID-19 Crisis Management Team has been established under the leadership of Cardinal Oswald Gracias and Bishop Allwyn D’Silva to monitor ongoing developments and respond to the emerging needs.
Over 100 plus Churches, religious institutions and church-affiliated social work bodies have been providing groceries, cooked food, household essentials and medical assistance on a daily basis. These have been largely funded by the parishioners and other well-wishers. On April 2, 2020, the Prime Minister’s Office held another video conference to discuss the case of migrant workers.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias also participated in this discussion. His Eminence interacted with the Director General (DG) of the Home Guards, following the conference, about providing assistance to migrant workers, which was highlighted as the immediate problem that needed to be tackled. The Home Guard DG requested the use of facilities around the city, for the distribution of food to distressed migrant workers. This was essential to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Accordingly, a couple of churches across Mumbai have been identified and offered to act as shelters for migrant workers. The first such shelter was set up at St Peter’s Church, Bandra under the guidance of Fr Frazer Mascarenhas SJ. Provisions for stay and meals have been made for 25 women and 100 men.
Parishes across the archdiocese are involved in relief efforts. Fr Carlton Kinny at Infant Jesus Church, Dombivili responded to a request by the resident District Collector (Thane) and officials of the Kalyan-Dombivili Municipal Corporation by starting a Community Kitchen for 1000 migrants sheltered by the government. Fr Nigel Barrett has started a relief camp at Rosary Church, Dockyard Road, for foreign tourists stranded in the city. This has been established in collaboration with the Home Guards. Far away from the city, the Church is actively reaching out in the Raigad Missionary District in collaboration with the CSA. Fr Pascal Sinor distributed rations to 250 families belonging to Our Lady of Nazareth Church, Alibag and another 500 families at Poynard, covering 12 Adivasi (Katkari) villages. Fr Joe Borges, similarly has distributed hampers of essential items to 235 needy families at Korlai, irrespective of religious affiliation.
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Orlem has undertaken a number of activities to support and assist those physically and economically affected by the virus. The Community Fridge is constantly restocked with fresh food to ensure that the homeless don’t go hungry. Tiffin services are also carried out to assist the elderly and the handicapped, not receiving domestic help on account of the curfew. Food packages are also placed at the doorstep of those quarantined upon return from a foreign country. Rations have been distributed to rickshaw drivers, barbers, rag pickers and other affected daily wage earners.
St. Anne’s High School is now sheltering and feeding migrant workers. The Divine Mercy Cell of the Parish supplies a daily breakfast to Municipal workers and beggars as well buys medicines for the old, sick and disabled. Prayatna (CCO of Our Lady of Lourdes Church) provides personal protection equipment to hospitals and labs. Besides this, financial help has been offered to villages struggling to deal with the pandemic along with those infected by the disease. Fr Michael Pinto, Parish Priest at Orlem, credits the incredible generosity of the parishioners for making all this possible.
(Collated by Fr Joshan Rodrigues for The Examiner, with inputs from Fr Mario Mendes – CSA, Frs Frazer Mascarenhas SJ – Bandra, Pascal Sinor – Alibag, Joe Borges – Korlai, Ravina Lobo – Orlem)
To the cardinal .
Its gr8 that the holy spirit gives strength and courage.
To all of us.
Love
Bernard Fernandez
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