Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Jul 9: Bishop of Mangaluru diocese Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza on Sunday July 9 blessed the new home for children run by NGO White Doves at Kalpane, Kulshekar here. In a remarkably noble gesture, the house that has been converted into children's home as well as the land on which it is located was donated by retired teacher Irene Karkada.

Irene Karkada cut the ribbon and inaugrated the home for children in the presence of MLA J R Lobo, ACB DySP Sudheer Hegde, and Daijiworld founder Walter Nandalike.

Addressing the gathering, bishop Dr Aloysius said, "This is a special day, a special moment we are witnessing here. Today, 27 children will start to live their dream. God has made a miracle in their lives by bestowing White Doves to take care of them. We all know taking care of children is a very difficult job. Everyone loves children but nobody is willing to taking care of even 3 to 4 children. But Corrine Rasquinha and her White Doves team are taking care of 27 children. Some of the children have never seen their parents, while some have lost their parents due to some circumstances. White Doves is giving them the love and care that parents give their children. Corrine and her husband have become parents for them. White Doves is working in the path of Jesus. They are following God's instructions as preached in the Bible.

"Humanity is the real religion and Corrine Rasquinha is following it. The donor of this beautiful children's house Irene Karkada is the living example of selflessness. I appreciate her noble gesture. She is a role model of real charity for us. We should do our bit for our neighbours and the needy without considering caste and religion. Only hearts filled with love can achieve victory over the current world's bloodshed and communal disturbances. We should show our love towards
humanity and humans," the bishop said.

MLA J R Lobo said, "Religion is based on humanity. Without humanity we cannot follow religion. Corrine Rasquinha is following dharma in its true sense. She is a role model for humanity. I appreciate her efforts in caring for children. She is giving mother's love to abandoned and orphaned children. Irene is another great example of humanity. She has donated her parents' house to these children. Nowadays nobody is ready to let go of even one foot of land. Majority of family disputes are over property. But Irene has donated the land and her house worth crores to White Doves. She is the real heroine of today's society. I wish all the best to Corrine and her team. God will do more and more miracles in this house."

DySP Sudheer Hegde said, "Irene has given new meaning to selflessness. She has done two great jobs in her life. One is teaching, and another is donating her house and land to abandoned children. By teaching she has moulded good citizens for society and helped them achieve success in their lives. By donating land and her house to White Doves she has become a ray of hope in the lives of children. People like Irene and Corrine Rasquinha are very rare in our society, so we should all stand with Corrine and support her organisation.

Walter Nandalike said, "I have known Corrine from a long time. Everything she is doing for society has meaning and it is humanity at its best. She is the Mother Theresa of Karnataka. Her White Doves is an institution of love and humanity. She is always focussed on her mission to rehabilitate abandoned people who have lost everything in life. Irene is also a role model for us. By profession she was a teacher, but after her retirement she is now teaching us a valuable lesson in life with this noble deed. It is not easy to donate one's house and land. But she has shown us that if we have real love towards humanity we can do anything. I congratulate the children on getting a new home."

Irene Karkada was felicitated by the bishop and the dignitaries on behalf of White Doves. Children Chalapathi and Umashankari shared their experiences in White Doves' home. Corinne Rasquinha welcomed the guests and Jerome rendered the vote of thanks. Geo Agrar compered the programme.