Udupi: Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo launches Swachh Bharat campaign on eve of Eucharistic Procession

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, Nov 22, 2014: As part of the National Cleanliness Drive initiated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2 October 2014, the Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo inaugurated the cleanliness drive on Saturday, 22 November 2014 at 9 am along the route of the Diocesan Eucharistic Procession which will be held on Sunday, 23 November 2014 from 4.30 pm. Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Dean of Udupi Varado and Parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church took the lead in the cleanliness drive as the Diocesan Eucharistic Procession will be taken out from Mother of Sorrows Church.

 

MLA of Udupi, Pramod Madhwaraj, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese-Msgr. Baptist Menezes, Dean of Udupi Varado-Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Corporator of the area-Yashpal Suvarna, Secretary of the Catholic Education Society of Udupi (CESU)-Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, PRO of Udupi Diocese-Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa, Rev. Fr. William Martis, Vice President and Secretary of Parish pastoral Council-Boniface D’Souza and Gracian Bothello and other parishioners of Mother of Sorrows Church were present for the cleanliness drive.

 

 

Following a brief welcome address by Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Pramod Madhwaraj in his message stressed the importance of the National Cleanliness Drive that was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and made an appeal to the people to keep their city clean. He said that comparatively, the city of Udupi is much cleaner than other cities in Karnataka. He further said that still much has to be done to improve the cleanliness of the city and develop an attitude among people towards the importance of cleanliness as cleanliness is next to Godliness.

 

In his message, the Bishop said that ‘Clean India’ is a beautiful ideal and cleanliness drive should begin with oneself and should spread to the home, neighbourhood and surroundings. There is a need to change the mindset of the people and inculcate the ideal of cleanliness in the minds of children as well as grownups. He further said that while Indians go to foreign countries, they meticulously observe the rules and regulations of those countries especially regarding cleanliness, but once they come back to India they tend to forget the need to keep their surroundings clean. It is necessary to spread  awareness among the people about  the need to maintain clean home and equally clean surroundings.

 

Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa compered the brief inaugural programme.

 

Bishop Gerald Lobo and Pramod Madhwaraj initiated the cleanliness drive by picking up the plastic and paper waste that was found by the side of the road. Other volunteers from Mother of Sorrows Parish followed them by collecting dry leaves and other waste.