Bengaluru, June 04: The Catholic representatives of Manipur migrants met Archbishop Peter Machado of Bengaluru in his office on Monday, June 3. Archbishop expressed his surprise and concern to learn the number of migrants who are finding a safe haven in Namma Bengaluru is increasing at an alarming rate on each passing day.

The increasing number of Christians from various tribes of Manipur proves how Bengaluru has become a destination for many other people who travel from distant places and different states to find a job so as to support their families back in their own remote regions.

Those representatives, mainly from interior villages of Manipur, shared their woes, struggles and pain especially their spiritual needs with the Archbishop who is known for his stand in strengthening the spiritual life of the sheep entrusted to him. Everyone who lives within the Archdiocese is his sheep. Taking the matter to his heart, the Archbishop has assured the people from the Northeast of all the spiritual care and animation that they needed from time to time.

Archbishop emeritus Bernard Moras had also taken up this matter and some Salesian priests were involved in the matter and organized several programmes for such groups within the Archdiocese.

The Church in Bangalore is gripped of this problem and is, indeed, facing newer challenges of availing the services and facilities to migrant and itinerant groups. In this venture new initiatives and programmes are planned and programmed by the Archdiocese, said the PRO of the Archdiocese on behalf of the Archbishop.