Mysore priest honoured for distress call service

November 08, 2013 - An Indian Catholic priest from Mysore was honoured last week by the Newspapers Association of India for his service to society. Union Minister Oscar Fernandes conferred the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ on Fr. SD Joseph during a ceremony at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, on Oct. 30. For more than 30 years, Fr. Joseph has been serving society, particularly women and girls in distress through his centre called ‘Distress Call Mission.’ A qualified counselor, Fr. Joseph’s phone counseling services cater to all people without distinction of caste, community or creed, who suffer from various problems such as dowry harassment, unwed mothers, inter-caste marriage problems, addictions and attempted suicide. His service was limited to Mysore and its surroundings, but has now extended to Bangalore also. His family donated nearly 30 acres of land in Kamagere, Chamrajnagar District, where Fr. SD Joseph set up St Margaret’s Girls Composite College which caters to the needs of about 100 girls studying in high and higher secondary schools.