Bishop Distributes 46 Scholarship Cheques from CASK to Deserving Students
Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha Distributes 46 Scholarship Cheques from Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK) to Deserving Students in and around Mangaluru pursuing their studies in Nursing, B Ed, Engineering, College graduation, Post Graduation, and even Primary Schooling-IRRESPECTIVE OF CASTE OR CREED, during a programme held at Bishop’s House Hall on Saturday, 24 August 2019.
Mangaluru : Quoting Saint Mother Teresa- “If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by “I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in”. I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things. A life not lived for others is not a life. Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
The Governing Board Members of CASK seen with Bishop Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha are :
Mrs. Nayana Rose Fernandes- President; Capt. Vincent Pais-Vice President-1; Mrs. Patricia Lobo-Vice- President-2; Mario Joseph Saldanha-Secretary; Dr. Anand Titus Pereira- Joint Secretary; Walter D’sa-Treasurer; and the Governing Council Members are : .Richard C. Rodrigues; Ms Thelma Rita Benedicta Pais; Dr. Anthony Mathias; Dr. Christopher Pais; Ms Joan Lobo; Ms June Pais; Ms Sharlet Pinto; Ian Desmond Lobo; Paul Mascarenhas; Robert Joseph D’Souza; Francis Joseph Ullhas Rasquinha; Joachim Louis Pinto; Ms Gulobi Fernandes; Archibald H.G. Menezes; Jeevan Saldanha; Ms Ratna Pinto; and Dr. Derek Anthony Lobo- Governing Council Member & Bishop Representative ( Few members are absent in the photo)
The above thought-provoking quote by Saint Mother Teresa aptly suits the voluntary and community service rendered the members of Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK), who have been doing yeomen service in helping the needy and less-fortunate for decades- and their service with love and care towards the poor and downtrodden still continues as of today, even after 104 years of their existence. Apart from their love towars the poor in their various capacities, CASK has even contributed towards the education of deserving students through scholarship, and today (24 August) was yet another kind gesture from their side towards 46 students who are either pursuing their education in Nursing, Engineering, B Ed, college graduation, PG and also studies in primary school, irrespective of caste or creed, offering them scholarship cheques, ranging in the amount from Rs 5000, Rs 7000, Rs 7500 and Rs 10,000 depending on their educational status.
Before going further into today’s programme, let us appreciate the tremendous community service done by CASK in the last 104 years, in a brief summary- With over 1300 CASK members spread across India and several countries of the world, The Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK), it is the oldest Catholic Laity Organization in South India, established in July 1914 and Registered under the Societies Act in 1925. Also CASK publishes a monthly magazine entitled “Mangaluru” since July 1927, one of the oldest monthly magazine in the country with the credit of uninterrupted publication for 90 years. And for the fact today’s chief guest-The Bishop of Mangaluru – Most Rev.Dr Peter Paul Saldanha is the Patron of CASK.
Over the last 104 years, CASK has worked towards fulfilling the following Objectives of the Association- In promoting the educational, economic, cultural, social and general welfare of the community; Render assistance to the under-privileged and vulnerable groups of society, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or any other distinction; Support the publication of books, periodicals, and other literature authored by community members and also support preservation of the Konkani language, literature, culture, heritage, arts, architecture, music and fine arts; Act as the voice of the community in upholding its rights and privileges;
Inter-act, network and function as a link to unite the community spread across India and abroad. CASK also organizes regular programmes for its members and also special programmes for students, youth, women and other target groups. CASK celebrated its centenary during 2013-2014 and successfully launched and implemented these programmes in honor of the Centenary, which are still continues, like – Promotion of Blood, Organ and Whole Body Donations” in collaboration with Fr Muller Hospital. CASK is involved in Creating awareness to encourage people to donate blood and pledge organs and organizes Eye and Paediatric camps; Personality Development Programme” for School/College Students. During the last five years, CASK has conducted this programme in 15 schools and 3 Colleges in Mangaluru. Nearly 1,500 students have been the beneficiaries of this programme so far.
CASK Education Fund” has been substantially scaled up in order to provide annual scholarship to deserving students irrespective of religion, caste, creed or other distinctions. Each year 100 scholarships are provided at Rs.5,000 each, primarily for purchase of books and extra coaching; Provision of Safe Drinking Water in Schools” – Most rural schools, both Government and private do not have Purified Drinking Water facilities for its students. CASK has installed Safe Drinking Water Units in 6 schools last year and plans to cover six more schools this year.
Footwear for Barefoot School-Going Children”, after CASK observed that approximately 20-25% of students attending Rural Schools and a few city school come barefoot to school, thereby exposing the children to snake-bite and infections like hookworm. CASK provided footwear to 500 children of four schools last year and plans to cover more schools this year. These are just a few of the projects among many other projects undertaken by CASK, and in order to scale-up all these projects, CASK needs support from its members and well-wishers to do such impactful charitable work.
The Scholarship programme began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer rendered by Ms Joan Lobo= active member of CASK, which was followed by a very popular and sentimental hymn “Showers of Blessings”. Ms Nayana Fernandes-the President of CASK welcomed the audience, followed by a unique project undertaken by CASK in regarding to environment/sapling planting, as briefed by Dr Anand Pereira-the Joint secretary of CASK. In his address to the audience, Bishop Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha appreciating and being overwhelmed by the generous projects undertaken by CASK, said that CASK is an added credit to the generosity shown by Catholic organization.
Bishop further said, “The generosity of Catholic community is evident, when we see the names of Catholic on the donors plaques installed at various institutions or NGO’s. This kind of gesture from Catholic community build self confidence among us. CASK showing their concern towards people with snake bites, who suffer to recover from the agony, through financial aid for treatment should be immensely appreciated. Also CASK’s blood donation camp which has given new life to many also needs to be commended. And today while CASK is distributing scholarship cheques to the deserving students is indeed a generous act from their side towards students who want to start their career”.
While concluding Bishop Peter Saldanha quoting Pope Francis said,”The pope said that feeding the hungry is “an ethical imperative for the universal church” and a calling for all Christians to defend the universal right to food and water, especially for the poor and the needy. Our relationship with God – a God who has revealed his merciful face – involves our giving food to the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty. Therefore we need to share part of our wealth towards those in need, but never expect anything in return. Like in the Bible it says- But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked”.And I am happy that CASK is doing yeomen service towards the poor, and also to the students who want to betterment their future career”.
It was now time to distribute the scholarship cheques to the 46 students, who after receiving the cheque returned back to their seats with a smiling face and thankfulness in their hearts to CASK for recognizing their efforts in pursuing their education- and they should also thank CASK Governing Board member Ullahas Rasquinha who sorted them out of the 100 plus application CASK had received to avail the scholarship. Their thanks should also go to the family of Franklin Mathias Fund, which was part of the scholarship amount along with funds of CASK . Miss Archana Das of B Sc from St Agnes College-Mangaluru received a special scholarship cheque through Judith Brown Nee Colaco Students Fund, for her achievement in academics.
A cheque for Rs 48,000 was handed over to Ms Selma Roche (the wife of Jeeth Milan Roche, who couldn’t make it to the programme since he had gone to New Delhi to receive the All India Catholic Union Centenary Environment Award 2019 on 23 August ) to be used towards the expenses to plant saplings in the Hindu Rudhra Bhoomi in Nandigudda, as part of Pope Francis’s initiative “Laudato si”(which is the second encyclical of Pope Francis, having the subtitle “on care for our common home”) and promoted here in Mangaluru by Bishop Peter Saldanha. The vote of thanks and the professional compere as always was done by Ms Patsy Lobo- the Vice President-2 of CASK. Capt. Vincent Pais-Vice President-1 was also present on the dais.
In conclusion in my perspective, while CASK is doing yeomen service in helping the needy and also deserving students to aspire their dreams, and to carry on with their community service they appreciate support from generous donors and well-wishers. And we should know that giving is something done voluntarily. Giving should not be done under compulsion, coercion, duress, or conviction. There are some exceptions, of course. When you do give, you are to give what you have chosen in your heart. Those who take pity on those less fortunate than us are true neighbors and care givers..
The joy of being able to bless and give someone you love and care, and to make them smile, is priceless. The satisfaction that comes from making a difference in the lives of others cannot be overstated. Knowing that you have helped make someone else’s life a little brighter and better is a special feeling, and one that will last with you for a long time. And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy. So if you are looking for a way to enhance your act of sharing and giving experience, try giving back now. Let’s give to the less fortunate, ashrams, non-profit organizations, needy families and children, and others a feeling of hope, and make a difference in their lives. And one place you can donate some of your wealth is CASK , where members are inviting well-wishers and friends to be partners in their endeavors to help in their community oriented projects.
