By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru, July 24, 2020: The diocese of Mandya in Karnataka state has issued a set of guidelines to help Covid victims get proper care and support.
“The pandemic has affected every family of our diocese in one way or other, and the only way is to support each other by forming grassroots level committees,” Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath of Mandya told Matters India July 23.
The prelate says the guidelines were issued as the Coronavirus pandemic has entered the suspected stage of community spreading.
The guidelines appeal Catholics in the Syro-Malabar eparchy or diocese to organize parish and ward level committees and set up a group of volunteers to “ensure proper care and support to Covid victims.”
Bishop Adayanthrath also said most parishes have already set up the committee as a support system.
The prelate also points out that most Catholics in his diocese are migrants from Kerala and the Church has a moral obligation to support them during the period of crises.
He said the guidelines were issued after consulting with the three pastoral committees including priests, consultative committees and the laity association who all have committed to work together.
“As we wait for a rainbow after a heavy rain, we expect the rays of some hope during this pandemic with the enthusiastic cooperation of our people,” Bishop Adayanthrath said.
A pastoral letter issued on July 21 and circulated among Catholics through electronic media encourages parishes to formulate a Covid committee and coordinate with the diocesan Committee.
The first task is to develop a database on the number of Covid patients in the community and ensure they get proper care and facilities. The pastoral letter suggests that each parish set up a mini hospital with at least 10 beds with available resources as expensive treatment in private hospitals is not affordable and available.
It observes that besides allopathic medicines to treat symptoms, many indigenous medicines are available to boost the immunity that needed to be promoted.
The guidelines also suggest opening a quarantine facility under the diocese to help people avail good food and clean environment.
The diocese also proposes to start a health insurance scheme to help its members and requests parishes to enroll beneficiaries.
Bishop Adayanthrath also underlined the need to work closely with the Bangalore Latin rite archdiocese in all Covid control programs and cooperate with the government guidelines.
The diocesan pastoral letter instructs each parish to develop a Standard Operating Procedure to deal with any death from Covid-19 and set up a youth volunteers wing to help the burial process in a dignified way without breaking government protocol.
“God is with us, and we will be protected,” assured the bishop in his pastoral letter that expresses happiness over many parishes working towards the collaborative model.
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate Father Jomon Kolanchery, a diocesan coordinator of the Covid committees, says that since most Catholics in the diocese live in Bengaluru, the state capital, they have to work closely with the Bangalore archdiocese and the Karnataka government.
Most parishes have already formed committees and are in the process of developing a list of people affected and reaching out to them. “Although our primary target is our own parishioners, instructions are given to not ignore anyone, irrespective of caste and creed,” Father Kolanchery told Matters India July 24.
The diocese of Mandya has around 70 parishes or mission stations, among them more than 50 parishes are located in Bengaluru city or its peripheries.
“The people are migrants and have limited resources, but they have a culture of working together at the time of a crisis like this,” said the priest, who pointed out that the diocese had pooled together around 27 million rupees worth materials to help flood victims in Kerala and Karnataka two years ago.
Some parishes have already set up the mini hospital and a quarantine center. Father Reji Koodappattu of Bommanahalli in Bengaluru has already started a quarantine center with eight beds.
“The Church cannot be a mute spectator when people, including Christians, are suffering or dying all around. We must use all our resources, both infrastructure and trained personnel to ensure lives are saved,” says Claretian Father George Kannanthanam, another coordinator of the priests committee.
The diocese has also set up a Covid Help Mission Plan at the family, ward, parish and diocesan levels to pool resources together and coordinate the activities.