The Prayers of Orphans
Earlier this month my Kuwait based friend, Ulysses, wrote to me saying that it was the First Death Anniversary of his father, Anthony Menezes, and he needed to release some adverts in the local Goan newspapers. These adverts would be to remind people about the Anniversary Mass. I got him in touch with an advertising agency who gave him the rates which worked out to about Rs. 5000/- for a small advert in the O Heraldo and similar amounts in other papers. Ulysses was all set to release adverts in three newspapers when I intervened.
With modern networking and communication, I assured Ulysses that it was possible to intimate all the friends and relatives, that mattered, about the Anniversary Mass. Ulysses said he had already done so but said that since he had budgeted a certain amount for the Mass, Choir, Snacks, Beverages, etc, this was just another of the budgeted amounts – for advertisements. I convinced him to advertise in one newspaper only and to spend the rest of the money budgeted for advertisements on some charitable cause. Ulysses readily agreed with my suggestion and gave me Rs. 10,000/- to do whatever was necessary.
I contacted my Aldona based parents who got in touch with Auxilium Convent in Carona. The nuns in charge run a Primary School there. Forty five of these students live in the boarding house. They are all girls without one or both parents, or from broken families. These ‘orphans’ are very grateful for whatever they can get. A deal was made with a local caterer and on Sunday 17th June which also happened to be my son Fabian’s birthday we drove down and served the girls a meal of:
- Green Peas Pulav
- Fried Chicken
- Cauliflower Caldin
- Custard and Jelly Dessert
Beatrice and my Mom purchased some small pouches and filled them with pencils, erasers, sharpeners and some assorted sweets and a Frooti each. These were given as gifts to the girls before the meal. All within the Rs. 10,000/- budget. We gave the nun in charge a Memorial Card of Ulysses father and she read from it and the children said a prayer for him. They also sang Happy Birthday to Fabian. I am sure Ulysses father will be pleased at money well spent rather than just making publishers rich with unnecessary advertisements.
I write this in the hope of convincing others to do similar charitable works. I see totally unnecessary and huge and expensive Death and Condolence and Death Anniversary adverts in the papers that serve no purpose other than making the publishers rich. The same money could be spent on feeding or clothing or educating needy children.
Ditto with those silly ads wishing politicians on their birthdays. Why don’t they tell their supporters to spend that amount on charity?
Good stuff! My congrats to all involved.
agreed. this definitely would be a good thing to do instead of advertising too much on the newspapers. another friend of mine sent emails and sms to all concerned informing about her mom’s death anniversary mass. we should really make use of the modern networking and communication.
Cecil as usual you are great. Although I never met you but do know lot about you through my friend Gasper when I was in Kuwait. May God bless you and your fly.
Great idea…many do so here in Karachi.
Good example for us to follow. Hats off to Ulysses & you
Great job,Pinto.We all need to follow your example. Also would like to add that as far as I know, the nuns accept clothes for the girls(in good condition ) but only those that will fit upto age 10.
Great example, Cecil. The nuns at Auxilium are doing good work.
As you say, “the same money could be spent on feeding or clothing or educating needy children.” Many years ago, on my father’s 10th death anniversary (I think), my mother arranged a feast at the local orphanage. The administrator told her that such charitable feasts were all too common, so could she sponsor a child instead (education, school uniform, books etc)? I don’t think my mom’s charitable instincts stretched that far, but I guess a decent lunch for poor children is better than an ad in the papers.
Great idea – wish all those who spend money on putting in adverts for birthday wishes etc would use the money for a charitable cause instead.