By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, July 1, 2020: As India celebrated “Doctor’s Day” on July 1, the Archdiocese of Bangalore launched a “short stay home” for doctors and health workers serving Covid hospitals.
Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore blessed and opened the pilgrim’s home attached to Infant Jesus Shrine in Viveknagar, the southern Indian city’s most popular pilgrim center to help “the warriors” rejuvenate themselves.
“We want to support them with our hospitality and care,” said the archbishop who invited the Covid warriors to utilize the facilities.
Speaking to Matters India on phone, the archbishop said he was really disturbed by the unwelcome doctors and health workers experienced from the general public in Bengaluru and other cities. “It is our duty to welcome them, instead of just banging plates or lighting a lamp,” the prelate said.
The prelate also said he was “particularly disturbed by the plight of a Covid warrior, Doctor Simon Hercules, who died in Chennai and was denied a dignified burial.” Such incidents are happening in other parts of the country also, he noted and added that, “We need to commit our support to them.”
The archdiocesan facility named, “Come and Rest a while,” is intended to provide health workers attached to Covid hospitals a short stay, in response to a government request.
J. A. Kantharaj, archdiocesan public relations officer, said the Church also has launched several other programs to support the government in its rehabilitation programs.
“The archdiocese provided 30,000 ration kits to migrant laborers, who were stranded during lockdown, and arranged four shelter homes for them during lock down,” the first lay person to become the archdiocesan PRO, told Matters India over phone.
Kantharaj also said the archdiocese has received a letter of appreciation from the Karnataka chief minister for the services rendered by the Catholic Church in Bengaluru, the state capital. He said several religious congregations contributed much to the management of various crises during the Covid pandemic.
“The Archdiocese of Bangalore considers it a privilege to welcome these self-sacrificing warriors at our places which can be used for rest and relief,” Archbishop Machado said while inaugurating the center for the Covid warriors.
“We are looking for more such facilities to accommodate doctors and health workers,” the prelate added.
The facility is managed by Father John Sudeep serving the Infant Jesus shrine community. He is the manager and correspondent of a school in the shrine campus.
The shrine takes care of Covid warriors with dignity and care. It provides them food and single rooms with Internet facilities to help them keep in touch with their families.
Meanwhile, a Covid hospital in Mangalore, a port city some 350 km west of Bengaluru, reported that 10 doctors were tested Covid positive on June 30, a day before the nation celebrated Doctors Day.
Good to see that finally the Doctors and Health workers have been given a place by the Archdiocese.
But sad to see the reaction from many a church rum Centre, which rejected the request, that has been made a few weeks ago , despite many centres being locked up and un-utilised now. Was it not the responsibility of every Christan Centre to be open for such a need ?
WHAT ARE OUR CENTRES FOR IF NOT TO BE AVAILABLE AT SUCH MOMENTS.