KOCHI: The 32 dioceses and monasteries of the Kerala Catholic Church have submitted an interim report and assessment of COVID 19 counterinsurgency operations and lockdown period relief work to the KCBC to evaluate the cooperation and participation of the Catholic Church in the COVID relief effort. The KCBC Annual Meeting will evaluate the work that has been done at various levels of the church during COVID. The KCBC will discuss the matter of post-church and community and will outline their future work, said the Deputy Secretary. Dr. Varghese Vallikattu said.
The Social Service Societies are the leading dioceses in collaboration with the district authorities for the prevention and relief work of the COVID. Volunteers and volunteers are actively involved in raising awareness for COVID, building supplies of masks and sanitizers, delivering food and medicine to guest workers and needy families, and distributing food packets.
Under the aegis of the Diocese of Social Service Societies, more than 15 lakh masks have been produced and distributed. The women and youth organizations of the church are also actively involved in activities including community kitchens in collaboration with local bodies and other NGOs.
A sum of Rs 10,07,29,745 has been spent on social service societies up to April 30, Rs 21,20,89,968 for parish led activities and Rs 12,87,18,280 for charitable organizations.
The KCBC has also donated Rs 1,03,50,000 to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund from the dioceses and monasteries. When the lockdown was announced in the state, Catholic hospitals and health workers expressed their willingness to cooperate with the government. The details of the church’s educational institutions, meditation centers, hostels, social welfare centers, and pastoral centers and the facilities available there were handed over to the respective district administrators.
These systems are being utilized for the needs of the non-resident Keralites, including the Quarantine. Alcohol returning as soon as it is locked down can disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in families and communities and complicate social control and prevention efforts. High vigilance is required in this regard.
For those who are heading up the educational institutions of the church, the church should provide free education and other benefits to the children of the returning homeless and give special attention to address the mental distress caused by the changed circumstances. Recommendation given. The KCBC urged the youth, good leadership, clergy, and charities to be alert to local issues and to work with local self-government institutions and other NGOs to reach out to the government’s various relief and welfare programs.
