Mangaluru: Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese inaugurated and blessed the newly constructed 100 bed home for the mentally ill people at St Anthony’s Ashram on November 21.
The Bishop, in his message, said that the service of St Anthony’s during the past one hundred and twenty two years is a witness to God’s love. We can’t see God around us but we can experience God’s love in the selfless service rendered to the humanity. St Anthony’s Ashram has given that service to the society without expecting anything in return. The opening of the new house for the mentally ill people is a sign of further commitment to the service of humanity, the Bishop said.
MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Chairman of Christain Development Fund Joylus D’Souza, former MLA J.R. Lobo, former MLC Ivan D’Souza, corporator and former mayor Jacinta Alfred, Asst Director of the Tourism Dept Somshekar, corporator Bharat S., Corporator of Panjina Mogaru Vani Mangala were present and congratulated the Ashram administration for taking the service the to further heights.
St Anthony’s Ashram has a century long history of service to its credibility. It was started on 12th June 1898 at Milagres Church. Since then the Institution has freely catered to the needs of last and least of the society irrespective of caste and creed. At present there are 400 inmates in the Institutes. Once a person is admitted to the Ashram all the needs of the inmate are taken care of free of charge. The admissions are made only if the person is a destitute.
The Ashram completed 120 years of existence in 2018. On that occasion the administration of the Ashram decided to build a home for the mentally ill people in memory of its 120 years of its service to the poor. The foundation stone was blessed by Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Pauld D’Souza on 13th June 2018.
The newly constructed home is named as ‘Our Lady of Miracles’ as the origin of the Ashram took place in Milagres Church. The home has a capacity to accommodate 100 people, 50 men and 50 women. The home is well equipped to take care of the mentally ill people. The doctors from the department of Psychiatry of Fr Muller Medical College Hospital will be visiting the inmates twice a week. Besides this a team four nurses, a counselor and ward maid will be available taking care of the inmates. The home also has a spacious hall to provide recreation facility to the patients. The solar panels fixed to the roof top of the building generates enough power to provide to the houses located inside the Ashram compound.
Richard Rodrigues, Vailanakani Construction and Lawrence Cutinha the architect and the those who labored to put up building were honoured by the Bishop.
Fr Onil D’Souza the director of the Institutes welcomed the dignitaries and presented a brief history of the Ashram. Fr Alban Rodrigues the administrator, Fr Roshan D’Souza the Asst director, other dignitaries and well-wishers of the Ashram were present on the occasion.
