CUNCOLIM: The sanctum sanctorum where the lines of the old Hindi film song, Jiska koi nahi uska khuda hai yaaro, come true is St Joseph’s Home, an institution for homeless and destitute people, in Quepem, run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. It is an ashram for helpless, elderly people, who spent their whole lives caring for their children, only to be thrown out of their own homes by them. It is a home for those who have become disabled due to old age.
The home has two ashrams in South Goa – one at Quepem (where men are accommodated) and the other at Cotto de Fatorpa (for women). Run by the charitable sisters belonging to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, it not only provides shelter to the elderly, but also to the wounded, the afflicted and those who are on their death-bed.
SERVING HUMANITY
Those who come to St Joseph’s are not questioned about their caste, religion or region; rather they are given shelter only on the basis of human need. At present, there are fifty five aged and destitute people at the Quepem ashram.
The sisters of the ashram treat the destitute like family, and even though they are not related to the inmates, they serve them from the heart as an act of humanity. Such human beings are angels in the true sense of the word. These sisters avoid publicity and serve the needy with absolute spirit, and are far superior to any blood relatives of the destitute. In effect, they almost bring a kind of magic to every human being who comes to this ashram.
The needs of every destitute, who comes to this ashram are recognised, and they are given adequate food and medicine as required. The sisters here do everything, from bathing to feeding the poor, and all possible arrangements are made in this temple of social service so that the abandoned who come here will no longer be destitute, but spend the remaining days of their lives in happiness.
Food, medicine, entertainment and a decent life are provided to the elderly at the ashram. When any of the elderly people in the home pass away, the sisters perform the last rites themselves.
A fountain of humanity, St Joseph’s Home is an ashram for the homeless and is no less than a haven for the impoverished elderly. But, not all who come to this ashram are roadside beggars. Those who take shelter in this ashram aren’t merely foreigners. Those who seek shelter here don’t belong to same religion, but come from various faiths – Hindus, Christians, Muslims, believers and non-believers have spent their final days in this home. There have even been instances of highly educated people, whose children are wealthy, or live abroad, who are abandoned and have taken refugein this ashram.
Many people, who have been pushed away by their own are living the second innings of their lives here, putting their past behind them.
