On December 13, 2017, Hospicio Da Sagrado do Coracao de Maria (The Sacred Heart of Mary) popularly known as Hospicio - Margao completes 150 years. Fr. Antonio Joao Miranda from Margao took the initiative and appealed to the people of Margao for their generous donation in order to construct the sacred Heart of Mary hospital, to serve and help the poor by providing them with free medical care, irrespective of caste or religion. He even went from house to house with a begging bowl to raise the funds. With the support and generous contribution received from the people, Fr. Antonio formed two committees: one to draw up plans for the project and another to raise more funds from time to time to sustain the hospital and provide further facilities for expansion. What started with just four beds, a small hall and a corridor gradually increased to ten beds and a separate female ward.
It would be an appropriate occasion to honour Fr. Antonio Joao De Miranda, founder of the hospital and a great son of Goa if the Department of Posts could issue a commemorative stamp on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of Hospicio do Sagrado Coracao de Maria.
The India Post (Goa Circle) could also bring out a special commemorative cover with postal cancellation on December 13 to mark this landmark event of 150 years of dedicated service to the poor.
Melson F M Louis, Margao
