By Purushottam Nayak
Raikia, Oct 16, 2021: The visit of Selvaraj Jude Zacharia Rosario Mangalraj, the national president, has brought new enthusiasm to the members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Kandhamal, Odisha.
“We are immensely grateful to Mangalraj for visiting, inspiring, and assuring us of his generous support for the students, for the sick and suffering and for various small projects in the society,” said Surekha Pradhan, a Vincentian member after the October 15 meeting at Our lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, Kandhamal, under the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.
Mangalraj was elected on February 28 as the president of the society’s national council. He has so far visited nine of 87 central councils in India.
“As members of St. Vincent de Paul Society we have opportunity to do the good deeds for the poor, and marginalized people in society,” Mangalraj said in his message to the local members in Kandhamal.
Around 30 members from different conferences attended the meeting.
“We are good Christians only when our activities become good,” said Siripurapu John, central council president in Bhubaneswar, who accompanied Mangalraj to Kandhamal.
Recalling that the meeting was held on the feast of St Teresa of Avila, the president reminded his people to serve people and do God’s will with commitment and dedication, trust and confidence.
Mangalraj stressed the empowerment of youth and women, education and training for Vincentians and opening an evening study center for the children of Kandhamal. He has agreed to provide tuition program for the poor and underprivileged students. He has also agreed to fund an ambulance service project to serve the sick and suffering in the region.
Raikia parish priest Father Pradosh Chandra Nayak observed that the society, inspired by Gospel values of love, respect, justice, hope and joy, leads men and women to join charitable work and grow spiritually and to shape a more just and compassionate society.”
“We are grateful to the President and members of Vincent de Paul who are ready to uplift and empower the people of Odisha following Christ’s call to serve the poor , the suffering, and the deprived,” stated Nayak.
Frederic Qzanam founded the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul on April 23, 1833, in Paris, France, inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul’s legacy and decided to name the Society after the French saint of the poor .