Bengal Church social service forum gets new home

(March 19, 2012) A Church agency for development activities in the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim has a new home of its own. The agency called the Association of Bengal Collaborators for Development (ABCD) had its new office facility blessed and inaugurated on Saturday, in the eastern metropolitan city of Kolkata, formerly Calcutta. To date, ABCD was sharing office space with the Calcutta Archdiocese’s social service centre, Seva Kendra. The new ABCD office is located on the sixth floor of the landmark Canton Carpentry Works. While Bishop Cyprian Monis of Asansol inaugurated the premises, Bishop Clement Tirkey of Jalpaiguri blessed the altar dedicated to Sacred Heart and Our Lady and blessed the rooms. Bishop Salvador Lobo of Baruipur presided over the Holy Eucharist celebrated in one of the halls of the new premises along with ten priests and over 30 faithful including diocesan directors of social service, as well as staff. The ABCD is the forum of the social service societies of 8 dioceses of West Bengal state that also serves Sikkim. ABCD has been active for 40 years now. Former director of Seva Kendra, Fr Reginald Fernandes is the director of ABCD. The main role of ABCD is to promote value-based, sustainable development process in the region of West Bengal, leading to the empowerment of the poor and the marginalised people. ABCD does this through its partner organizations and affiliated NGOs.