"May we always care for our children, not counting the cost, so that they may never believe themselves to be mistakes, but always know their infinite worth," says Pope Francis. This year's theme of the Advent Campaign Against Hunger and Disease resonates the same: Serving the Best Interest of Children
The Centre for Social Action, which is the office of Social Work of the Archdiocese of Bombay (Mumbai), is co- ordinatinng 127 Children's Parliaments involving over 1400 children, and networking them at the Taluka, District and State level. This project is implemented with the technical support of UNICEF. These children are trained to take up issues of development in their neighbourhood and also ensure that the rights of children are not violated.
In addition to the above, the Centre for Social Action is also coordinating supplementary classes for children, vocational skill development and job placement for youth, financial literacy programmes, and training for traditional and alternative livelihoods with marketing support for their produce. Enhancing livelihoods reduces migration to the cities, enhances the quality of life for women, and enables the education of children.
I wholeheartedly endorse and bless this campaign. I urge the faithful of our archdiocese to continue our tradition of generosity and concern for the poor. You may donate online at www.csamumbai.in or send your Cheques/drafts favouring Centre for Social Action, to Eucharistic Congress Building, 5 Convent Street, Mumbai 400 001. Those contributing Rs 10,000/- and above are requested to send us their PAN number. Donations made to this cause are eligible for exemption under section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
The contents of this Official are to be made known to our faithful on the Sundays of Advent through appropriate announcements, posting it on your notice board, as well as on your parish/institutions on website. Also, kindly ensure effective distribution of the donation envelopes to the faithful. I also recommend that you appeal to children and youth to make a sacrifice during the Advent season and save part of their pocket money to contribute for this cause.
My personal thanks to you for your efforts in this Campaign to make ours a more humane world, and the Church a more Christlike Church. May God bless the Archdiocese of Bombay abundantly.
+Oswald Cardinal Gracias Archbishop of Bombay
