MARGAO: Every year the third Sunday of August is celebrated as the Justice and Peace Sunday. This year the Church reflected on how it has been striving to meet the demands of the Millennium Development Goals.
In a statement issued here the Council for Social Justice Peace (CSJP) has argued that it is the right and duty of each citizen to be responsible for the sustainable development of the nation and in particular of her or his own state.
"We Goans must contribute to the holistic progress of our tiny state of Goa by enabling ourselves through: awareness of all laws and amendments proposed in the Legislative Assembly, their scrutiny, in-depth analysis and giving suggestions/raising objections so that these laws are genuinely for the benefit of the citizens; alertness on violations in any sphere and in any form and by taking remedial steps; effective participation in all the activities of the local self governing bodies," the executive secretary, Fr Maverick Fernandes has said. Jesus’ Mission was to inspire a new way of living – a society where people liberate themselves by practicing values like justice, equality, freedom and human dignity as a constitutive element of their day to day lives. The Church continues His liberating Mission, taking into cognizance the prevailing social situation by inspiring people to create an environment where individually and collectively they can grow to their full potential. The Church encourages and also accompanies them to be creatively productive using their talents, skills and earn their livelihood, Fr Fernandes observed.
The Church in Goa, being fully convinced that holistic health of individuals, families and communities is a basic element for a productive life at all stages, has over decades conducted various projects involving all her institutions with charisms to render active services in different areas of this discipline, he added.
Another fundamental need to education has an essential dimension of the Church’s Mission for decades. The main aim is to impart integral education, based on Gospel values, he further added.
"In today’s context, protection and promotion of the environment and ecology are paramount. In the name of development and economic growth, land not only used but abused has caused irreparable degradation of the ecology and polluted soil, water and air. Vulnerable groups like women, children and youth, many of whom suffer mental, psychological and emotional torture because they are denied their fundamental rights to a fulfilling life. Many of them are used as objects for the service and even pleasure of those who are in power or can buy whatever they desire. Over the years, the Church in Goa has conducted programmes to uphold their dignity and has also established a number of institutions to meet the needs of those deprived of family life," Fr Fernandes pointed out.
Attention has also been given to unemployment, underemployment and unorganised labour. Various avenues have been opened for empowerment of women through training and employment and also of those disabled but capable of earning their livelihood in suitable jobs, he mentioned adding as early as the mid-eighties, the Church addressed the issue of adverse effects of tourism on the ethico-socio-cultural life of the people, especially in the coastal belt, particularly the impact on the youth. Different initiatives were introduced which culminated in the establishment of Federation of Small and Medium Guest Houses and Hotels in Goa (FOSAM) and Federation of Tourism Taxi Operators and Drivers (FATTOD), assistance to the Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS), formation of self help groups of local beach vendors and other similar initiatives under the Centre for Responsible Tourism (CRT).
