21st September 2025: The Advanced Crusaders Ministry (ACM) of the ACJM hosted a one day seminar at Palloti Home, Chicalim-Goa with the aim of providing updated information to the seniors on a variety of schemes available with the Govt of Goa for the welfare of the elderly. This seminar was put in place, when after a process of much prayer and discernment, the leadership of the ACM came to the conclusion that spiritual upliftment and physical support to the elderly must go hand-in-hand. The one-day session was enveloped in an atmosphere of prayer, and with the Word of God, the Holy Eucharist and sessions of praise and worship setting the spiritual tone, authoritative resource persons from the Govt of Goa and other public institutions in the state spoke to the audience.
Mr Diogo Da Costa, a resource person on the legal protection to seniors, shared the legal provisions available to seniors against physical & emotional abuse and enlightened the gathering with cases of cheating of seniors, not taking proper care, not giving financial assistance for maintenance of seniors, etc. A session was held on Social welfare schemes for seniors and conducted by resource persons from Directorate of Social Welfare, Mr Vishal Naik & Vaishali Kubal. They spoke about ‘Ummid’ scheme which provides senior medical aids like hearing and vision (spectacle) aids, medical beds, walking aids, etc. The concluding session on Palliative Care at Home was taken up by Dr Ira Almeida, Senior Paediatrician and Community Health Consultant with the Govt of Goa . She spoke about facilities provided for bedridden patients at home and about cancer patients and their meetings where there is a bond created through interaction & sharing every week at District Hospital and also bereavement support to the families who lost their loved ones.
The day concluded with the participants expressing their gratitude to God for His manifold provisions and returned home comforted and strengthened in the knowledge that the Lord looks after those who love Him – Yes, He indeed provides for them down to the smallest detail.