The World Disabled Day Celebration, on December 8th Sat under the aegis of PurvanchalGraminSevaSamiti, the Social Service Wing of the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur and hosted by and conducted in St Joseph’s School, Civil Lines saw a vibrant and colourful gathering of around 900 physically disabled children from different villages and localities of Gorakhpur- Basti Divisions.
The programme is titled Udan VIII. Children besides conducting cultural programmes beating their physical limitations with great determination were given a wonderful opportunity of sports, games and cultural competitions with due awards and rewards for their hard works.
Chief Guest on the Occasion, Ms Dr SatyaPandey praised the efforts of PGSS and the Catholic Diocese of Gorakhpur in enabling the disabled ones to be vibrant members of the nation and society. Fr Varghese, director, PGSS welcomed one and all and explained in details the achievements PGSS has made in the direction of empowering the disabled children and youth. He thanked the Principal, staff and students for hosting the programme as part of education with social sensitivity.
Present on the occasion were Most Reverend Dr Thomas Thuruthimattam CST, Bishop of Gorakhpur, Most Reverend Dr Dominic Kokkat CST, Bishop-Emeritus of Gorakhpur, FrDr.Santhosh Sebastian, Principal, St Joseph’s School, Fr Jose CST, Fr Jerome, FrLona CST, distinguished persons from various government and non-governmental agencies, fathers, sisters, seminarians, teachers from different schools, B Ed students of St Joseph’s College for Women. Speaking on the occasion both Bishops emphatically renewed the commitment of the diocese towards the upliftment of the poor and needy after example and teaching of Jesus Christ.
St Joseph’s School as part of its commitment towards an Education with Social Sensitivity supported the programme with food and all other infrastructural helps. The staff members of the school gave an exemplary witness of serving the needy and the underprivileged through their day long service to around 1100 hundred people present on the occasion.
The Disability Policy of the Diocese which contains the vision, mission and commitment of the diocese of Gorakhpur towards the disabled people was released and shared by the Chief Guest. It was prepared by PGSS which has a network of over 150 programmes running in 1500 villages of Gorakhpur-Basti Divisions which comprise seven civil districts in the north eastern part of Uttar Pradesh bordering Nepal.
FrSobin, Assistant director, PGSS thanked all. Children were gifted with trophies and woollen blankets. Principal Fr Dr Santhosh Sebastian explained that St Joseph’s School stands committed to an education with social sensitivity according to which the school instills in the minds and hearts of the children and parents the need to be proactive and sensitive towards the disabled, mentally retarded and destitutes of our society. The school gives forum for such persons to present their cultural and artistic ablilities.
