Mangaluru: Catholic diocese of Mangalore, under its Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, would take out a year-long campaign against suicide in the parishes under the diocese starting from March 1. The initiative comes under the church's proclamation, 'Year of Life-2020' with a tagline, "Human life is precious, care and protect it".
On the occasion of the year of life, Laudato Si committee of Mangalore Diocese will organize a campaign against suicide, on Sunday, March 1 in all the parishes of Mangalore Diocese. The Sunday mass will be dedicated for the campaign and all the participants will take a pledge that they will face any life-threatening situation bravely rather than thinking of suicide cowardly.
The people also pledge to help the person who has suicidal tendencies to overcome the negative thoughts by accompaniment, giving positive strokes and arranging counselling as for as possible.
Over 1 lakh handbills are printed containing information in English and Kannada about educating and helping people to protect Human life. They will be distributed to all the people on that day to create awareness about the campaign.
Further, a call is given to all the parishes to organize seminars/workshop, awareness programmes on the issue in Parish level and involve people of all religions. A team of 50 resource persons who are qualified in this field are ready to conduct the programmes.
The organizers of the campaign are provided with existing Toll-Free Helpline Number to prevent suicide. People with tendencies can call 0824-2983444 (24x7) to prevent it.
Over a lakh, yellow ribbons will be distributed by the committee. All those who are joining in the campaign will be wearing a Yellow Ribbon on the dress provided by the organizers on 2nd March 2020 during the whole day, wherever they are to create awareness against suicide.
The diocese also to launch a Happy Face Photo Contest for the public. Any person above 12 years of age can participate in this contest by sending a Bust size photo (Face only) either a selfie or photograph of oneself to this WhatsApp Number 7090449999 before 30-04-2020. The best and happiest face of a man and a woman will be awarded Rs 10000/- each.
The results will be announced before 15 May 2020, a statement from the diocese stated.
Spread in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka and Kasaragod taluk of Kerala, Catholic Diocese of Mangalore has 124 parishes under its command. The diocese, in last year, carried out massive tree sapling plantation drive in all its parishes under Laudato Si campaign.
