By Matters India Reporter

Muktsar, April 17, 2020: Catholics in a Punjab city have taken the lead to help the poor and needy during the nationwide lockdown

On April 17, the top police officer of Muktsar district launched a Church project to distribute 10,000 milk packets and vitamin tablets to people in their neighborhood

S Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu, the district’s Senior Superintendent of Police who opened the program in front of the Catholic church in the city, commended local Christians for reaching out the poor by following government norms for the lockdown.

The police chief stressed the need of alertness and awareness of the terrific sickness the coronavirus causes to people. “All should follow strictly the guidelines of the government,” he said and highlighted the need of unity, cooperation, and hard work from all sections of society to eradicate the pandemic. The task “is highly demanding and challenging,” he added.

The milk packets are prepared and distributed by the Little Flower Christian community, Little Flower School and Little Flower Charitable Society in Muktsar, all managed by the Congregation of St Theresa of Lisieux, a Kerala-based religious congregation for men.

Muktsar, or Sri Muktsar Sahib, is some 285 km southwest of Chandigarh the state capital.

On the occasion, Father Mathew Kumbuckal, manager the school and in charge of Muktsar’s Catholic community, said some 20 volunteers will door deliver the packets at least seven days. “We will review the situation after that,” the 66-year-old priest told Matters India on April 17.

Father Kumbuckal, who was earlier the superior general of the congregation, said they follow a list of needy people prepared by the municipal officials. “We supply one part of the city where more poor people are living,” he added.

The priest also handed over 1,000 clinical masks to Sandhu for the use of police personnel. He said the masks were “a token” of the Christian community’s concern and appreciation for the dedicated service of the police during “the difficult time of coronavirus pandemic.”

Father Kumbuckal commended the Punjab government for “doing its best to combat the present situation” and for succeeding “to a great extend” to stop the spread of the virus in the northern Indian state.

He said the Christians in Muktsar began to reach out to people as soon as the lockdown was announced from March 25. “We have been collaborating with the district administration, Red Cross Society and the police department,” Father Kumbuckal said.

“From the beginning, our students, parents and neighbors were instructed through our school staff, teachers and communication medias to follow strictly the government rules and guidelines,” he explained..

Helped by the district health department and the Red Cross Society, the Catholic parish started making clinical masks for people and NGOs.

The joint efforts of priests, nuns and Catholic youth managed to supply 3500 clinical masks for Red Cross Society, health department and police personnel.

They also started distributing kits comprising wheat powder and grocery items to the needy. “Almost 100 families are helped in this way. We also provided medical help to those in need,” Father Kumbuckal said.

At the request of the district administration, the priests handed over their Immaculate Mission Hospital. This was done to help the health department to shift to the Church institution the medical department of the local Civil Hospital that was being prepared as a center for coronavirus test and treatment, said Father Sandeep, the hospital director.

The local community of the Daughters of Mary also helps the priests in the humanitarian works, Father Kumbuckal said.