St Anthony’s Ashram in city opens modern facilty for mentally challenged

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, November 22, 2020: The 120 year old renowned St. Anthony Ashram has been in the news for all the good reasons, on November 21, 2020 evening, a Blessed hapening was witnessed. Most Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha the bishop of Mangalore inaugurated and blessed the newly constructed 100 bed home for the mentally challenged/ ill people at this humane and natural campus in Jeppu, Mangaluru.

The Bishop in his message said that the service of St Anthony’s during more than one hundred and twenty two years is a witness to God’s love. We can’t see God around us but we can experience God’s love in the selfless service rendered to the humanity. St Anthony’s Ashram has given that service to the society without expecting anything in return. The opening of the new modern facility for the mentally challenged / ill people is a sign of further commitment to the service of humanity, the Bishop said.

MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Mangalore South; Joylus D’Souza, the Chairman of Christain Development Fund, Karnataka Govt; J.R. Lobo, former M.L.A.;  Ivan D’Souza, former M.L.C. Jacinta Alfred, former Mayor and Corporator; Somshekar, Asst Director Tourism Dept; Bharat S. Corporator, Vani Mangala, Corporator of Panjina Mogaru were present and congratulated the Ashram administration for advancing the services to new heights.

St Anthony’s Ashram has a century long history of service to its credibility. Started on June 1898 at Milagres Church,  the Institution has freely catered to the needs of last, least and lost of the society irrespective of caste and creed. At present there are 400 inmates in the Institutes. Once a person is admitted to the Ashram all the needs of the inmate are taken care of free of charge. The admissions are made only if the person is a destitute.  The Ashram completed 120 years of existence in 2018. On that occasion the Ashram decided to build a home for the mentally ill people in memory of its 120 years of its service to the poor. The foundation stone was blessed by Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Pauld D’Souza on  June 13,  2018.

On this joyful inauguration, Richard Rodrigues, Vailanakani Construction and Lawrence Cutinha the architect and the those who labored to put up building were honoured.  Fr Onil D’Souza the director of the Institutes welcomed the dignitaries and presented a brief history of the Ashram. Fr Alban Rodrigues the administrator, Fr Roshan D’Souza the Asst director, other dignitaries and well-wishers of the Ashram were present on the occasion. This new facility is set to bring great good to suffering  here in the future.  

The newly constructed home is named as ‘Our Lady of Miracles’ as the origin of the Ashram took place in Milagres Church. The home has a capacity to accommodate 100 people, 50 men and 50 women. The home is well equipped to take care of the mentally ill people. The doctors  from the department of Psychiatry of Fr Muller Medical College Hospital will be visiting the  inmates twice a week. Besides this a team four nurses, a counselor and ward maid will be available taking care of the inmates. The home also has a spacious hall to provide recreation  facility to the patients. The solar panels fixed to the roof top of the building generates enough  power to provide to the houses located inside the Ashram compound. Indeed this new block and facility will bring much relief to needy in the region and go a long way to care of human sufferings