WORLD AIDS DAY      AND                         WORLD AIDS SUNDAY
 Thursday, 1st December 2011          4th December, 2011
WORLD DISABILITY DAY
Saturday, 3rd December, 2011

Theme: “In SOLIDARITY, ensure OUR RIGHT to HUMAN DIGINITY”

To
The Parish Priests/Chaplains
Heads of all Educational and other Church Institutions,
Archdiocese of Goa & Daman.

Rev. Father/ Brother/Sister/ Madam/ Sir,

Greetings to you and all your collaborators and Prayerful Wishes for a fruitful “Season of Advent”

World Organisations deem it opportune to dedicate special days each year to specific aspects of the life of human  persons. The aim is to inspire Society at large to reflect on different situations, particularly the unfavourable ones and to make firm effective commitments in Solidarity to promote healthy and productive lives for all.

“Solidarity highlights in a particular way the intrinsic social nature of  the human person, the equality of all in dignity and rights and the common path of individuals and peoples towards an ever more committed unity” (Compendium  of the Social Doctrine of the Church – No.192)

Some of the situations that demand Solidarity :

• The Government  and a number of NGO’s work to enlighten people at large about HIV/AIDS and what needs to be done. Despite, there is strong negative attitude towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

• Much has been achieved towards the acceptance of the Disabled or the Differently ABLED, whether physically, mentally or psychologically. However, many families,  when it is discovered that a new-born  is not physically or mentally normal or when the disability occurs later, the child, more if it is a girl, becomes the victim of the traumatic experience.

Those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty and preserve, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing (Jas: 1-25)

What must be our firm commitment in Solidarity as doers

For PLWHA

• learn the facts of the disease and make others aware to eliminate undue fear, 
      secrecy, stigma and discrimination
• protect and promote their dignity, particularly of children, young girls and women
• assist PLWHA to obtain proper treatment, care and acceptance.
• advocate for their rights to a productive life
• obtain support to the other members of the family, including counseling
• promote measures to prevent and contain the disease

For the Disabled/Differently Abled

• be knowledgeable about their rights and the schemes available for them.
• make others aware of these rights and schemes
• assist them  to avail of these opportunities/facilities 

Collective measures for AFFIRMATION
• establish Volunteer Groups at the Parish and Institutional levels in the Villages/ Towns to conduct specific surveys and to formulate Action  Plans to enable the deserving  to obtain their dues
• conduct Sessions to inspire these affected persons to face challenges for productive lives to the utmost of their individual capacities

With firm Faith in the words of Jesus, “I came to give them life and to give them life in abundance “(Jn: 10-10), let us fulfill our Christian commitment.

May the Lord bless all your efforts abundantly,

       Yours sincerely in Christ.
           Fr. Valeriano Vaz
               DIRECTOR