PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão on Saturday appealed for prayers and financial assistance for victims of natural calamities in various States of the country.
In a circular to parish priests, heads of church institutions and people of good will, Cardinal Ferrão the catastrophic floods, cloudbursts and landslides that have struck both hilly and riverine regions have severely disrupting lives in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, which are among the worst hit.
“Children are the most affected, with many losing their parents and earning members. More than 1,500 people lost their lives, numerous have lost their livelihoods and over 1 lakh families are suffering severely, with many people still missing, and the death toll is rising by the day,” stated Cardinal Ferrão.
“The Church in Goa has been following this natural calamity with profound anguish and pain and express our solidarity and sympathy with the people who have lost their family members, homes and other enterprises. In our ecclesial commitment and human solidarity, we humbly request all to offer ardent prayers for those who have lost their dear ones, suffered injuries or lost everything.”
Cardinal Ferrão stated that the Church in India, through Caritas India, has already deployed teams to assess, monitor, respond and coordinate the relief and rebuilding activities, which are executed in collaboration with the local Diocesan Social Service Societies.
“In the past, whenever natural calamities struck the lives of numerous people, the Church in Goa generously came forward to support, not only through prayers, but also, tangibly, through financial assistance,” stated Cardinal Ferrão.
He informed that cheques/NEFT and demand drafts may be handed over to respective Parish Priests or at the Caritas-Goa Office, Instituto N.S. Piedade, Panaji drawn in favour of ‘Caritas-Goa Emergency Calamities’ (Account No: 520101219522622, Bank Name: Union Bank of India, Address: Dr. Atmaram Borkar Road, Opp Municipal Garden, Panjim Goa. 403001, NEFT/IFSC Code: UBIN0902594).
Cardinal Ferrão has appealed to people to send an email to caritas@caritasgoa.org stating that the amount is towards the Natural Calamities in North Indian States.
He also stated that cash donations may be handed over at the Treasury Department at the Archbishop’s House.
“We call upon our Pastors as well as Superiors of educational and other religious institutions to announce the contents of this Circular at Sunday Masses and regular meetings and thus enable everyone to take part in this drive of the Church in Goa to bring relief to our suffering brethren in the North Indian States,” Cardinal Ferrão added.
