On Sunday, 26th February, 2012 the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) members of Milagres unit visited “Snehalaya Orphanage” at Talapady, Mangalore, a place where 50 downtrodden people are housed. This is an unique rehabilitation center, a perfect example for Jesus call ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my people that you do unto me”. All of these inmates were picked up from the street in and around Mangalore who were in a pathetic insane condition.
Mr. Joseph Crasta, started this center in the year —- and running with the help of one assistant Mr. Melvyn. Mr. Crasta is a thoughtful, highly competent man deeply committed to his work personally nursing the inmates’ wounds and attending the needs affectionately which helps restoring the trauma affected cause. Perhaps a meal, a roof over their head and a little care to activate their memory.
Mr. Crasta shares his conclusion, due to some grave reasons people go away from home to unknown destination. Rugged destiny ahead makes them to forget where they came from and even their own names. Trouble is, even when the homeless stand in plain view we likely don’t see them. That’s because society makes them invisible, untouchable.
SSVP members took great interest in entertaining the inmates by conducting games, making them to sing and dance and distributing prizes. A lunch was organized and served at noon as well, a cheque of Rs. 10,000/- was given as SSVP contribution for the cause.
Behold in them and us, the scriptures are being fulfilled. Praise be the LORD!
James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Matthew 22:34-40
34Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced ([a]muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. 36Teacher, which [b]kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light--which are heavy?]37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself.40These two commandments [c]sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Ephesians 5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children .
Psalm 82:3 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Proverbs 31:9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Isaiah 56:1 This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Deuteronomy 10:18 He does execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, in giving him food and clothing.
Deuteronomy 16:14 and you shall rejoice in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your male servant, and your female servant, and the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates.
Deuteronomy 24:19 When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgot a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Deuteronomy 24:20 When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:19 When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgot a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Deuteronomy 24:20 When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it after yourselves: it shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.
Deuteronomy 26:12 When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled.
Deuteronomy 26:13 You shall say before Yahweh your God, “I have put away the holy things out of my house, and also have given them to the Levite, and to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandment which you have commanded me: I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
Dear Father Walter,
I am indeed happy to see the good work done by our parisheners – trying to help God’s poor.
Joe
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