Mangaluru: The Diocese of Mangalore, through the CODP, distributed educational aid to needy Catholic students of the diocese on August 29 at the Bishop House in Kodialbail. Bishop of Mangaluru, Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha handed the cheques worth Rs 2,57,500 over to 53 students during the first phase.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Bishop said, “Pope Francis called the poor ‘our teachers’ who teach us how to face life and live a simple life. Jesus called every Christian to be the light of the world and salt of the earth. We are called to share our resources with the needy and thus we can become the light of the world and salt of the earth.”
On the occasion, an awareness talk on corona and cancer was also given to the beneficiaries by the CODP Sparsha Programme coordinator Shilpa D Souza and Fr Oswald Monteiro.
Fr Oswald also urged all the Catholic students to avail government scholarships and enroll themselves under the Ayushman Bharath card, which benefits both the APL and BPL individuals.
Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, procurator and PRO of the Diocese, Fr Oswald Monteiro, Director CODP, Fr Richard D’Souza, Director Canara Communication Centre and others were present at the occasion.