Shimoga Diocesan Multipurpose Social Service Society (SMSSS) “Chaitanya” new Director Fr Pius D’Souza, takes charge

June 21, 2024

Shivamogga, June 21, 2024: Shimoga Diocesan Multipurpose Social Service Society (SMSSS), “Chaitanya,” new Director Fr Pius D’Souza took charge today.

At 10:30 am, Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Shimoga, as well as President of SMSSS, celebrated Holy Eucharist together with outgoing Director Rev. Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto, newly appointed Director Rev. Fr Pius D’Souza, and Diocesan Youth Director Rev. Fr Franklin D’Souza.

Bishop Francis Serrao SJ, preached a meaningful homily depicting the role of the church in society. He said the Lord Jesus Christ went around doing good for every person in society. We are following in his footsteps and reaching out to the lost and the least in society without discrimination.

End of the Holy Eucharist Rev. Fr Pius D’Souza took the oath in front of the Bishop and SMSSS employees.

Then a short Felicitation program was organised at SMSSS Hall. Employees thanked outgoing Director Rev. Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto and welcomed Rev. Fr Pius D’Souza. Bishop Francis Serrao SJ congratulated Fr Roshan for his Yomen services. He wished Fr Pius every success in his new role as Director of SMSSS. Mr. Jagadeesh compered the program.

SMSSS was started on August 11, 1989, with the motto ‘Towards a life with dignity’. The late Archbishop Dr Ignatius Pinto, first bishop of the diocese of Shimoga, was instrumental in starting SMSSS. Then the second bishop of the diocese of Shimoga, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, carried forward the mission of SMSSS to another level. The present bishop of the diocese of Shimoga, Dr Francis Serrao SJ, has taken SMSSS to another height.

Directors who served SMSSS are:

Fr Mark Patrick D’Silva
Fr Clement D’Souza
Fr Gilbert Lobo
Fr Veeresh Vincent Moras
Fr Richard Pais
Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto
Fr Pius D’Souza (Present Director)

About SMSSS

The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society (R) is the ‘Development arm’ of the diocese of Shimoga, Karnataka, India, comprising of three civil districts, namely, Shivamogga, Chitradurga, and Davanagere. SMSSS is a secular, voluntary, non-profit organisation registered under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act 1960, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010, and under sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961. The society has been committed to making positive changes in the lives of poor and marginalized people, irrespective of caste, creed, gender, and race, since it came into existence on August 11, 1989, with the motto “Towards a life with dignity.” Through its development interventions in 627 villages of 187 Gram Panchayats of the three districts,.

Vision: A society based on justice, peace, and love

Mission: Empowering the poor and marginalized through capacity-building and rights-based actions

Goal: Marginalized communities will have access to and control over knowledge, resources, and decision-making for their integral and sustainable development.

Priority groups: small and marginalized farmers, people living with HIV/AIDS, marginalized women, children and their parents, unemployed youth, unorganized labourers, etc.

Approach: