Michael D Souza a ray of hope in community empowerment – Bishop Saldanha
Mangaluru: “Quoting the words of St. Bernard, Pope Francis has recently said we should always listen to the poor. As per my own experience as the Bishop of Mangalore for the past 6 years, poverty does not confine to financial difficulties alone. Loneliness, separations in the families, and abandonment too amount to poverty,” opined Rt. Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore. He was addressing the students and parents after the inauguration of Mr Michael D. Souza and Family Educare Endowment (revolving) Fund and disbursing an interest-free educational loan to the deserving students pursuing higher education at Mother Teresa Hall, CODP, Nanthur.
The Bishop further said, “There is a saying that a nation without a vision dies. Similarly, a community needs a vision to combat poverty. Our savior Jesus Christ has laid a vision for us, and there is no reason to lose hope. The foundation laid on Peter is strong enough. Congratulating Michael D Souza and his family members, Mrs Flavia D Souza, Daughters Nisha, Rochell, and son Manu, Bishop compassionately said, “The Michael D Souza family is a ray of hope in the upliftment of the underprivileged in our community and Society. His firm belief ” Empowering through education” which was resumed way back in the year 2013, has created doctors, engineers, and other professionals and empowered thousands of families. In the last 11 years, 3,300 students benefited from the Educare program by Michael D Souza under CODP. He is the source of inspiration to many, and society will remember his pioneering role in the movement of empowering through education.”
Mrs Flavia D Souza along with Mrs Nisha D Souza, handed over a cheque of Rs. 75.00,000/- to the Bishop on this occasion. Advisor of the Michael d Souza Trust, Very Rev Fr Valerian D’Souza, Assistant Director of C O D P Fr Lawrence Cutinha, and Rev Fr Vincent D’Souza, Director of CODP, were present on the dais on this occasion.
Bishop Saldanha symbolically distributed scholarships to three deserving students on this occasion. In all, 84 students will receive Rs. 74,42,000/-, Fr. Vincent D Souza, Director of CODP, said in his introductory welcome address. The program commenced with a prayer song led by CODP staff. Rev. Fr Vincent D Souza, Director of CODP, welcomed the gathering and introduced guests on the dais.
Mrs. Flavia D Souza, Mrs. Nisha D Souza, Rev. Fr Valerian D Souza, Mr Stephen Pinto, Mr. Oswald Rodrigues, Mr. Henry D Souza, and Mr. Lionel Aranha were honored by the Bishop with a shawl and garden plant on behalf of CODP.
On behalf of the Michael D Souza Family , Mrs Nisha, Daughter of Mr Michael D Souza thanked Dioceses of Mangalore and CODP for giving an opportunity to their family in the mission of spreading empathy and love through the mission of charity.
Quoting the lines from the popular song by Matthew West, Mrs. Nisha said, “God has created us to do something, particularly carry on his mission of sharing and caring. We received values of sharing and caring from our parents and grandparents, and God blessed our family with a special child. We learned more about empathy and caring.”
Quoting verses from Luke 16:10, “‘The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great.” Mrs Nisha further said, If we as a community decide to contribute whatever little we can towards the upliftment of the underprivileged around us, we can make this world a better place to live.”
The Bishop called on the students to be grateful for receiving an interest free education loan and asked them to repay it systematically in order to make it a revolving loan fund. The program was compeered by Mr Richard Alvares, member of the Educare Committee, and Mrs. Reena D Costa, coordinator of Educare, proposed the Vote of thanks.
