During the Portuguese rule and even later on for some more years, there was only one Asilo (Old Aged Home) and that too only for males in Candolim at Pintos Vaddo. Nowhere else was there any such an Asilo in the surrounding areas nor in the ambient villages. The inmates in this Asilo which is still running well under the care of Goa government, are from all over Goa. During those good old days spending one’s life in Asilo means a sort of lowliness but now it is somewhat different. And precisely because of this mindset Asilos are mushrooming almost in every village all over Goa. In Candolim itself there are now two, one for the females as well known as “ARC OF HOPE” situated at Murod, opposite to the Church.
Seen above is "ARC OF HOPE"
ARC OF HOPE was the initiative taken under the banner of St. Vincent de Paul and was started with the blessings of the then Archbishop Raul Gonsalves in April 1981. Now at 92 sheltered at Arc of Hope, Ms Esmeralda Gomes as In-Charge of this Home shouldered the responsibility for 32 long years to look after the inmates there. The current Home was inaugurated in 1984 in a plot gifted by one local lady Sr. Cristalina when she felt it was the need of the hour to house the inmates in a more spacious place. In order to raise funds for the construction of this Home the people behind this project went begging for help almost to every house in Candolim besides organizing Dramas and other activities. Additionally, like a Bom Samaritan, Mr. Frank Simoes a kind hearted local helped this project financially and with the assistance of the then Spiritual Director Fr. Victor Rodrigues who supervised the working of this project, this project got a boost.
Seen above is one of the rooms for the inmates
In 1987 the ground floor followed by the first floor two years later was completed and now the entire project is ready as seen in the picture, thanks to the extra ordinary efforts put in by the dynamic team of the management that supervises this ARC OF HOPE, it has the capacity to accommodate 40 inmates under the care of efficient In-Chharge Ms Teodolina who is ably supported by two assistants, namely Lolita and Tulsi. Besides, weekly once a doctor visits the Home to check the inmates’ health condition and a Nurse too every morning.
Seen above are some of the inmates
To keep the inmates happy they are provided with TV and In-door games and those who are capable are allowed to do the Stitching, Hair-dressing and other such jobs. The birthdays of the inmates are also celebrated with their family members at Arc of Hope.
Once a week the local Parish Priest celebrates the Holy Mass for the inmates and daily they recite 3 Rosaries. For the security of the inmates, a C.C.T.V. is also installed.
Seeing the humanitarian work done at ARC OF HOPE, the villagers and visitors help generously the Home in Cash and Kind besides once a month on first Sunday outside the Church they do the collection in aid of their needs.
By seeing the poor – needy – aged with a smile on their faces, the great mission of Vincentian looks fulfilled. The great credit for this achievement goes to all those involved in running this great project. May God Bless them all.
A.Veronica Fernandes.