http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=447419
*X’mas Spirit: Goan Welfare Association, Qatar donates Rs. 2.60 lakh in Goa. * *(Seen in the photo: Goan Welfare Association (GWA) president Simon D’Silva handing over a cheque of Rs. 2.60 lakhs to Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao at Bihop’s Palace, Altinho on Monday, 23 December. Former Chief Minister and member of CWC Luizinho Faleiro, Fr. Valeriano Vaz, Fr. Marverick Fernandes, Edson Fernandes and Edgar Fernandes of GWA are also seen.)* In keeping with the spirit of Christmas and their annual tradition of donating to noble causes, the Goan welfare association (GWA), Qatar<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Qatar>, on Monday donated Rs. 2 lakh to the new Retreat Centre (Cruz De Milagres) which is under construction at Old Goa and a cheque of Rs. 60 thousand to the orphan children suffering from HIV who have been looked after by Caritas Goa. The cheque was handed over to Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao by GWA president Simon D’Silva in the presence of former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Luizinho Faleiro; Financial Administrator of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Rev. Fr. Valeriano Vaz; Director of Caritas Goa, Fr. Marverick Fernandes; Director of Sports for GWA Edson Fernandes and Sports Secretary of GWA Edgar Fernandes. Appreciating the initiative of GWA the Archbishop later gave the cheque of Rs. 60 thousand to Director of Caritas Goa, Fr. Marverick Fernandes, to use it exclusively for the orphan children suffering from HIV and a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh handed over to Fr. Valerian Vaz for the new retreat centre. GWA has been donating regularly for charitable causes in Goa including Rs. 3.38 lakh towards caritas care home for HIV/AIDS patients in Tivim village in North Goa two years ago and last year also donated Rs. 2 lakh. Goan Welfare Association’s president Simon D’Silva thanked His Excellency Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao and former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who guided and converted GWA’s altruistic desires into reality. Luizinho Faleiro lauded the charitable, social and cultural activities of GWA and praised them for doing the yeomen service for the Goans. GWA Qatar functioning under the dynamic leadership of President Simon D’Silva have been consistently doling out funds for relief work to different organizations in India. During the recently held annual community picnic organized by Goan Welfare Associatin held at Al Wakrah Beach in Qatar, the children got together and carved a beautiful sand mermaid on the beach, thus demonstrating their talents in unique display which surprised hundreds of passerby to admire the same. As a token of appreciation people from different nationalities willingly contributed a sum of Rs. 60 thousand to the kids. The children proved their generosity by handing over the amount to the Goan Welfare Association to donate it exclusively to the orphan children suffering from HIV. They are housed at Caritas Goa in Tivim and Cavelosim. Since 2001, D’Silva and like-minded Goans based in Qatar have pitched in to support organizations involved in relief work for the cause of the down trodden and neglected sections of society in India. The Goan Welfare Association has been the voice of Goans living in Qatar for the last 13 years without any doubts. Superbly led by affectionate Simon D’Silva, the association has rendered yeoman’s service in nurturing Goan culture and spirit among the large number of Goan expatriates. On a larger note the association has always been in the forefront of reaching out to various causes back home, thus setting a shining example to all. It is therefore not astonishing to see them host events with great aplomb and success over the last decade. The association is known not only for meticulous planning but also perfect execution and the annual May Queen Ball has been the true example for this. Contributions to the Gujarat Earthquake Victims through Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Child Relief and You (CRY), a national level social-charitable body involved in the welfare of orphan children have been the twin organizations where the Goans have pitched in over the last few years. GWA have also supported social work carried out by Lar de St. Terezinha Orphanage home at Margao and also helped the institute in Cavelosim village functioning under Caritas which is sheltering orphan girls suffering from HIV. Empowerment of both individual and communities had been the motto of Caritas, besides helping the individual to stand on its own. Not only relief work but empowerment of both individual and communities is the focus of attention of Caritas. The concern is to deal with people as human beings with dignity, help them run their own lives, guide them to live in communion with each other and in harmony with nature, and build this awareness within communities. The numerous projects run by Caritas in Goa include Prison Apostolate, were apart from teaching the illiterate prisoners to read and write, some of them are even taught different trades. All the centres run by the Caritas cater to all types of people irrespective of religion, caste or creed and are not limited to the people of Goa. The new retreat centre (Cruz De Milagres) will be used for retreats, seminars, spiritual, faith performance, etc.
