The stage was set for an extraordinary event as Caritas India orchestrated a momentous gathering for the South Cluster Cancer Campaign Review Meeting. Held at the vibrant backdrop of Karnataka Regional Organization for Social Service (KROSS) in Bengaluru on August 17, 2023, this day-long symposium stood as a silver lining and action in the battle against cancer.

Distinguished partners from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Goa – converged to partake in this vital assembly. A total of 29 passionate participants joined hands to ignite the spark of change. Fr. Richard Pais, the illustrious Director of KROSS, opened the event with a soul-stirring prayer, setting the tone for what would be an insightful and transformative day.

Fr. (Dr) Jolly Puthenpura, the Assistant Executive Director of Caritas India, extended a warm welcome to the attendees. During the interactive open house session, he conveyed the essence of the cancer campaign’s life-saving mission. With fervor, he emphasized that the fight against cancer transcends all boundaries – be it caste, creed, gender, age, or social status. The call was clear: every soul must stand united to combat this formidable adversary.

Fr. Jolly encouraged the participants to foster discussions within their dioceses, garnering the support of priests, nuns, and congregations. Their collective strength could become a powerful weapon against cancer’s ravages. The vision extended beyond the physical realm, as he proposed involving cancer patients in spiritual events, offering them solace amid their trials.

Fr. (Dr) Paul Moonjely, the Executive Director of Caritas India invited the participants to use different days of importance to spread the message of cancer awareness. He urged everyone to utilize the vast landscape of social media, transforming it into a platform of information dissemination. The clarion call was for kind-hearted individuals to join the campaign as volunteers, becoming beacons of support for their communities.

In a heartening twist, Fr. Paul underscored the role of the youth. He recognized children as potent messengers, capable of transmitting the gravity of cancer’s threat. Empowering them as volunteers, he believed, could revolutionize the fight against this affliction. His vision extended to a pool of oncology doctors, embedded within the campaign’s fabric, offering their expertise and compassion to patients and the cause alike.

The meeting continued with the sharing of the outcomes of SPARSHA and Snehahastham campaigns by Mr. Robert D Souza, State Program Associate for Karnataka, and Mr. Manish Simon, State Program Associate for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, respectively. Fr. Maverick Fernandes, Director of Caritas Goa, illuminated the progress made under the ‘cansurvive’ cancer campaign, resonating with the fervor from Goa’s shores.

As the meeting drew to a close, the participants recommitted their shared resolve to carry forward the campaign into their respective territories.