Ranchi: The Archdiocese of Ranchi always has a soft corner for the poor, the marginalised and the suffering. After launching two huge endeavours of providing pre-packed non-vegetarian lunch packets outside two largest government hospitals in Ranchi for the attendant and relatives of patients hospitalized in these hospitals, the Archdiocese of Ranchi has now begun daily distribution of complementary nutrition packets to over 300 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in the RIMS hospital Ranchi.
It may be underlined that the RMS Hospital is frequented by the poorest of the poor and though means are provided by the government the patients do not have the meals to avail of complementary food items like fruits, biscuits fruit juices mineral water and beaten rice etc.
The Ranchi Archdiocese through its seminarians and Ranchi Catholic Youth take over 300 packets to the hospital everyday, each containing these items.
Archbishop Felix Toppo SJ and Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX blessed the first 300 packets to be distributed. Archbishop Felix Toppo praying over the packets thanked the Lord “for keeping us healthy so that we can serve the sick and the needy, the more unfortunate ones.” He also prayed for all the benefactors to acquire all the resources.
Bishop Theodore explained that till now the Archdiocese through its Catholic Youth have been distributing cooked packed food over 800 needy persons everyday for over a month. The number of needy persons has been increasing very fast and its becoming difficult to maintain social distancing. Therefore the Archdiocese decided to alter its method of helping the poor by bringing supplementary food directly to the patients. He also announced the Archdiocese will soon Launch a programme to distribute dry rations containing rice, dal (pulses), potatoes, cooking oil, salt, cooking spices and onions in portions that would last two weeks for a family.
He emphasised that the Catholic church is able to serve the poor only because many religious congregations and benefactors belonging both to the Catholic Church as well as followers of other religions have been generously donating to the cause. He said the bishops, fathers and seminarians pray for the benefactors. Kuldeep Tirkey, Ranchi Youth Catholic President and Fr. Roshan Tiru, Ranchi Catholic Youth Director brought food to the wardens incharge of the COVID Wards