Historical visit of Archbishop Thomas Macwan to
Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh
On 5th July 2019, His Grace Archbishop
Thomas Macwan, Metropolitan Archbishop of Gandhinagar and President of
Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh visited the social work office and met the
staff. The day began with the First Friday Eucharist and later on with staff meeting.
Each team of the project prepared a power point presentation and presented to
the Archbishop and the staff. Archbishop was very much impressed with the good
works our staff does, with the help of our fathers and sisters in the rural
mission stations. We are grateful to Fr. Salvador Fernandes for his tireless
service for the last nine years. We thank our fathers and sisters who take this
work forward to the needy and the vulnerable in the society. We look forward to
the continued support of our fathers and sisters to reach out to the grass
root.
Staff development training programmes at Sabarmati
Samruddhi Seva Sangh in August
Month of August was one of training progammes at
Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh. The monthly staff meeting was the way to
present the achievements of the staff in their respective projects. The Social
wing of the Archdiocese has resolved to mainstream persons with disabilities or
differently abled. Keeping this focus in mind, all the staff together with Srs.
Selvi, Geeta participated in three days seminar at Jivan Vikas Kendra,
Pethapur. Mr. Kempaiah and Mr. Kabui came from Collective action for Basic
Rights Foundation, Bangalore to help the staff to understand various kinds of disabilities
and motivated everyone to work for the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Thereafter, Mr. Joseph Fonseca and Mr. Nirmal Minj came from Caritas India for
Account and Finance management training programme. Mr. Joseph helped the staff
to learn tally. Staff began using their knowledge practically on the spot. Then
Ms. Steffi Jose and Fr. Sajish came from Western Region Social Service Forum,
Mumbai and helped the staff to know and understand Social Teaching of the
Catholic Church which guides the social work in the Church and in the
Archdiocese. Many expressed that how the Church is human and touching the lives
of the vulnerable and bringing meaning to the lives of the people.
Annual
General Body Meeting of Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh
Sabarmati Samruddhi Seva Sangh, Archdiocesan Social
service wing had its Annual General Body Meeting on 29th August 2019
at 4 pm in the presence of the President, His Grace Archbishop Thomas Macwan
and fathers and sisters at Archbishop’s house, Pethapur, Gandhinagar. The
meeting was well attended by the members and Archbishop appreciated everyone
for their presence. He expressed his gratitude to Fr. Salvador Fernandes for
his long years of service in the social field. Thereafter the staff of SSSS
presented their works and activities of each project to the Body and thus brought
clarity of social work in the Archdiocese. His Grace Archbishop released the
Annual Report of SSSS for 2018-2019 and distributed copies to each member.
After going through the agenda, Archbishop expressed his concern over ecology,
abortion and cancer in Gujarat and urged everyone to act upon. Fr. Xavier James
expressed his thankfulness to all members and the partners. All Glory to God.
Field visit
of SSSS Director with the Coordinators of various projects
The newly appointed Director of Sabarmati Samruddhi
Seva Sangh, Fr. Xavier James after meeting the staff and acquiring enough
knowledge of the system, went for field visits to different centers to meet the
operating partners and animators. He began his visit from Siddhpur then going
to Khiloda, Mandali, Kadi, Mehsana, Deesa, Radhanpur, Bhiloda, Nanakantharia
and Meghraj along with project coordinators. As it was the first visit to
various centers and parishes, Director listened to the diversed concerns of the
animators and persons in charge of the project at the centre. He encourged them
for the good work they do to reach out to the marginalized in the society. He
also enlightned them with some facts regarding hunger, malnutrition in our
country.
Legal aid
& Situation analysis seminar for SSSS staff
On 23rd September 2019, SSSS staff was
given training on Legal Aid by two advocates Mr. Dhurgeshbhai & Mr.
Sudhirbhai. They dwelt on JJ Act and POCSO Act. Later, Fr. Xavier James helped
the staff to identify the problems and issues in the society through situation
analysis. These trainings were well participated by the staff as they are very
important to their profession.
Training
Programmes for Women of the Archdiocese at SSSS
On 28th September 2019, the women of cooperative
societies of the Archdiocese gathered at JVK, Pethapur for account training
programme. Mr. Isudas Vaghela was the resource person who helped the women of
the 10 cooperatives of the Archdiocese to practically write and keep up the
accounts in their respective cooperative societies. They were encouraged by Fr.
Xavier James, Mr. Vaibhav, Mr. Jaifin. Mr. Nitin helped them to gather data of
the women with disabilities in their villages in order to bring them to
mainstream of their work.
On 30th September 2019, Village health
workers and animators of the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar had assembled at JVK,
Pethapur for their review and planning of health programmes in their respective
villages. Fr. Xavier James, Ms. Sharmila, Mr. Anil helped them to understand
different aspects of health and hygiene which the animators will in turn teach
other women in their villages. They were given some tips to identify cancer and
be on guard at the early stage. Mr. Nitin helped the women to collect data of
persons with disabilities so as to include them in the health work of the Archdiocese
of Gandhinagar.
Archdiocesan
Girl Child day celebration
Keeping the nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in
mind, Archdiocese of Gandhinagar celebrated Girl Child day on 1st
September 2019. 164 girls along with Religious sisters had gathered at Jeevan
Vikas Kendra, Pethapur. After their formal welcome and refreshment, all participated
in the Holy Eucharist which was presided over by His Grace Archbishop Thomas
Macwan. Thereafter the day’s programme began with lighting of the lamp and
skits, information about health and hygiene, empowerment, child help line 1098
etc. After the lunch, each parish girls came up to the stage with their
creative programmes with the message that ‘empowered
girl brings bright future’. All the participants enjoyed their togetherness.
Towards the end of the programme each girl was given a plant to take care of it
and grow it so as to show their responsibility with regard to the environment.
Each parish center was also given the same. Archdiocese of Gandhinagar is
grateful to women’s desk Srs. Nila, Nirmala, Vincy and the SSSS staff for
making this day a memorable one for the girls of the Archdiocese.
Manos
Unidas officials visit the Archdiocese
From 11th to 14th October 2019,
Manos Unidas officials Ana Carcamo and Chiqui Bebido visited SSSS and
Archdiocese of Gandhinagar to see the developmental works in the Archdiocese.
As they arrived they met the staff of SSSS and the staff presented them the
activities which are done in the area of health, empowerment, livelihood, rehabilitation,
child care, care for persons with disabilities etc. They were very happy and
obtained clarity of our activities. They met Our Archbishop Thomas and
Archbishop thanked them for their generosity and support to the Archdiocese. Next
day they visited Nana Kantharia mission and met all the health workers,
animators and sisters Sangita, Ila, Shanti, Jackline from Nana Kantharia,
Khiloda, Bhiloda, Meghraj. There after they visited Ramela village interacted
with the women. Thereafter they visited Dabeli village in Palanpur parish. They
met the village people and interacted with them. They also met Frs. Salvadore,
Isidore, Julian and Sr. Aruna.
Then they went to Mehsana met Sr. Nirmala and
interacted with the women and proceeded to Mandali where they spent quality
time with women. Thereafter they went to Kalol to meet Fr. Raju and Sr. Vincy. Fr.
Raju had arranged a felicitation for them. The culmination of their visit was
with the birthday celebration His Grace Archbishop Thomas. They left the
Archdiocese with good memories. They are indeed happy to help us.
Capacity
Building for SSSS staff
SSSS staff had capacity building seminar by Fr. Joseph
Appavoo at Pastoral Centre, Nadiad on 9th October 2019. The staff
was eager to learn new things and approach new people for funding and so Fr.
Appavoo was so kind enough to take a half day’s session which energized the
staff as he is an expert in the field of Social work. Staff was also glad to meet
Rt. Rev. Retnaswamy, Bishop of Ahmedabad. The staff also paid a short visit to
Anand press to understand the process of printing and management. Everyone
returned with joy and much knowledge to do their work professionally well.
