KINDNESS IN A PANDEMIC

 It is in history’s darkest moments that the human trait of kindness shines the brightest. In an unprecedented global pandemic humanity from every nook and cranny is speaking the global language of kindness.  Everyone is pitching in and contributing, big and small, for the mighty cause of fighting a tiny yet, deadly virus that has descended from an unsuspecting mammal. To single out an individual and crown him as the man of the moment would not be fair. Even so, digging deeper, a soul emerges beyond the vast majority, whose act of kindness in a grave situation, evokes a special mention. One such person was a humble priest, Don Giuseppe Berardelli, who had been serving as the Archpriest of Casnigo in the Diocese of Bergamo in Northern Italy which was hit hard by Covid-19.  He contracted the virus and fell ill. As Berardelli was already suffering from a respiratory condition for a while, his parishioners had purchased a respiratory apparatus exclusively for him.  But with the raising pandemic, breathing apparatus for victims of the virus fell short in number.  Berardelli, despite ill with the virus himself, chose to give his ventilator to someone else, perhaps younger than his 72-years self.  Sadly in doing so, the priest died though someone younger than himself and with more years of life ahead was saved by the ventilator.  Indeed “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends!” were the famous words of Jesus who laid His life for humanity. History repeats itself and heroes emerge to brighten up dark times. In our parish too there were many such heroes who labored hard to spread kindness during COVID 19. 

Holy Ghost Church Covid-19 Relief Works:

      Holy Ghost Parish together with its SCC leaders and volunteers garnered much resource in extending their help and support to the needy all through the lockdown period of COVID 19.  It is note-worthy that the help rendered in such challenging times were both in cash and kind. The beneficiaries included several families from the economically week strata of society residing in and around and many migrants from Jharkhand. The SCC leaders from Bagalur layout, Lingarajapurm and Venkateshpuram were instrumental in identifying the needy families that were to be reached out.  Essential groceries such as rice, dal, sugar and oil, were then procured, packed and distributed.  Around 3500 of such packets were given to those identified.  These rations were given to all people in need without any discrimination of their religious background.

      Many of our parishioners donated generously towards the COVID 19 relief works both in monetary and other non-monetary ways.  They extended their hand in the procurement, packing and distribution of the ration to the needy families.  Despite the fear of the contagion, they came with a charitable spirit and involved themselves wholeheartedly in the relief measures. The Parish Priest, Fr. Anthony Swamy together with his team express their gratitude and appreciation to all the SCC leaders and other volunteers who made the Parish COVID 19 relief works a grand and satisfying venture.  Special thanks to Mrs. Pramila Edwin, for coordinating to purchase food grains, Mrs. Andrea and Mr. Sagay for their efforts in procuring food packets and Mr. Jai Kumar with others for distributing cooked food in different areas of the Parish.