To all the Parish SCC Coordinators, Archdiocese of Bombay
My dear Collaborators,
I hope you are keeping good health and have sufficient for your needs, particularly at a time when the city of Mumbai and other districts are struggling to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. Even though we are still in the National lockdown period, there is never a shutdown from communicating with each other!!! I pray that the peace of the Risen Jesus may continue to strengthen us to cope with these trying times.
I thank you sincerely for your wholehearted response in paying attention to the needs of those who are feeling the strain of the lockdown in your parish community: the sick, elderly, poor, homeless, neglected, daily wage earners, domestics, migrants, etc. You have wonderfully coordinated with the Community Coordinators and Animators, Parish Pastoral Council members and others from your parish to ensure that no one is in want in your parish community. Please continue to be of service, and the Lord will certainly bless us, for He said, “in so far as you did it to the least of my brethren, you did to me” (Mt 25:40).
We begin a new month tomorrow – the month of May, traditionally dedicated to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Usually, our parishioners would assemble at the church grotto or in our churches or in the community and pray the Rosary together. Because of the restraint due to the lockdown, I am requesting you to motivate all the families to pray the Rosary daily at home. Fr Cleophas Fernandes, Director, Snehalaya Family Service Centre, has sent the required material to the Parish Family Cell. I am confident of your support and assistance. May Mary our Heavenly Mother intercede with her Son, Jesus, so that those who are working to find a possible vaccine to combat the spread of the coronavirus may succeed in their efforts, and that our Archdiocese, country and the world may bounce back with renewed zeal and enthusiasm to be at the service of the Lord and the community.
A couple of days ago, I had requested you to send me the SCC Quarterly Reports (January, February and March 2020) by Sunday, May 17. Due to the local situation, I am now extending the deadline to Sunday, May 31. May I earnestly request you to help record the list of activities undertaken to alleviate the situation during the lockdown, using the enclosed format (click here for format). This information could be added as an appendix to the Quarterly Reports and sent through the Parish e-mail id, as is the practice.
Thanking you once again and with an assurance of my prayer, I end,
✠Barthol Barretto
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay &
Bishop in-charge of the SCCs, Archdiocese of Bombay
April 30, 2020