Mangaluru: His Eminence Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Mumbai and a member of the Pope’s Council of Cardinals, paid a pastoral visit to St. Anthony’s Charitable Institutions, Jeppu, on Thursday, 30 April 2026. The visit served as a significant moment of spiritual encouragement for the residents and the administration of the century-old institution.
Upon his arrival, the Cardinal was formally received by the Director and the management team. He was honored with a traditional shawl, following which the Director presented a concise briefing on the historical evolution of the Ashram and its current administrative functions. The report highlighted the institution’s commitment to providing care for the destitute and the marginalized sections of society.
During his tour of the campus, Cardinal Gracias visited the psychiatric ward as well as the general wards for men and women. He spent time interacting personally with the residents, offering them words of solace and hope. Before concluding his visit to the wards, he imparted his apostolic blessings upon the inmates and the staff members dedicated to their care.
The visit concluded with a fraternal gathering where His Eminence shared a meal and interacted with the priests of the institution. He was accompanied during the visit by Rev. Fr Praveen Martis (Administrator), Fr Gilbert, Fr Vivian, and Fr Rudolph Andrade.
Though brief, the Cardinal’s visit underscored the Church’s mission of charity and provided a renewed sense of vigor to the mission of St. Anthony’s Institutions.