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As the Christmas season approaches, a significant part of the Christian calendar known as Advent takes center stage. Advent, which means “coming” in Latin, is a time of preparation and waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, both in commemorating His birth and anticipating His second coming. The origin of Advent dates back to the 4th and 5th centuries, when Christians began to set aside a period of time to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The length of Advent varies, but it generally consists of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Day. Each Sunday, a candle is lit on Advent wreaths, symbolizing the growing light of Christ coming into the world.

The themes of Advent are traditionally represented by four different candles: hope, peace, joy, and love. These candles serve as reminders of the waiting and preparation involved in this season. Each week, one candle is lit, and readings from the Bible are shared that reflect on the corresponding theme. Read more

FEAST OF:-
THE NATIVITY OF JESUS – 25TH DECEMBER
THE HOLY INNOCENTS – 28TH DECEMBER

There is no more ancient a feast day for the Church than the Nativity of Jesus or Christmas Day. It has a major role in the Liturgical Calendar. In fact the Liturgical Calendar begins with Advent, a time of preparation for the Celebration of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus.

Christmas Day itself and the whole week of Christmas is about giving and Receiving Gifts. We think this is a culture, but it is something else. We are giving gifts at Christmas because on that day God the Father gifted us HIS ONLY SON. When we celebrate Christmas we are celebrating this Greatest Gift of all – a Father’s Gift to us of His only begotten son!! Read more

In my abstract imagination, I visualized that it must have happened somehow and somewhat like this. When the ten lepers heard about Jesus and his ability to do miracles, they must have made up their mind to go and meet Him. They had heard about His popularity because He had done many extraordinary things. He had cured blindness, deafness, restored speech and brought back people from the dead. Although reluctant, because hatred between Jews and Samaritans was fierce and long-standing issue those days, they nevertheless must have decided to go and meet Him. They had nothing to lose.

Jesus as we know had lot of followers and it must have been very difficult to get closer to Him. But in their minds, they had a plan that if people see ten together, they’ll make way. And, even if they didn’t, they thought of  calling  His name in a loud voice and He would hear them. This faith had gained them 50 points outright. Read more

Goencho Saib is a name coined for St. Francis Xavier by his many devotees in and around Goa. Born in Navarre, Spain, he became one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).

St. Francis Xavier arrived in Goa in 1542 and spent a significant amount of time in the region. He played a crucial role in establishing Christianity in various parts of Asia, including India, Malacca (present-day Malaysia), and Japan. His missionary work had a lasting impact in these areas, especially in Goa.

Early Life – Francis Xavier was born on April 7, 1506 in the castle of Javier, Navarre, Spain. He was the youngest son of an impoverished nobleman, who had died while Francis was still a child. Francis grew up with the clear determination to repair the damage to his family’s fortunes. His plans envisioned dreams of earthly ambition. In the end, instead of becoming a wealthy patron to tenants and soldiers, he became the patron of missionaries. God restored for all ages the family’s honour by making him a legend and a saint. Read more

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on December 8th, nine months before the feast of Nativity of Mary which is celebrated on 8th September.
Even though this feast day occurs in the Liturgical season of Advent, which prepares for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Immaculate Conception is one of the Marian feasts in the Liturgical Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church celebrated worldwide.
Its significance is that it is more pure and sinless conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary without the original sin, in preparation for becoming the Mother of God, the Son Jesus Christ.
Although like all human creatures Blessed Mary was conceived by her parents St. Anne & Joaquim.
The dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.
The iconography or religious scriptures of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception shows Mary standing with arms outstretched or hands clasped in prayers. Read more

“In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved.” (John of the Cross.)
He was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez at Fontiveros, Old Castile, into a converso family in 1542, near Avila, a town of around 2,000 people. He is a major figure of the Counter-Reformation in Spain, and is one of the thirty-seventh Doctors of the Church. His feast day is celebrated on December 14.

John of the Cross is known for his writings. He is the patron saint of mystics and contemplatives and of Spanish poets. He has inspired many other holy men and women to pursue God into the mysterious heights and depths of divine love. He was mentored by and corresponded with the older Carmelite, St. Teresa of Avila. In 1572, John travelled to Avila at the invitation of Teresa to become her confessor and spiritual guide. Read more

A family is the basic unit of civilization. We all belong to a family. A family comprises of parents and siblings (children). We all live in harmony in our own homes. We have our own ideology. Each family has its own discipline and every member respects this discipline and abides by it. The father is the Head of the family and mother has equal rights over the family members.

Similarly families were right from the beginning and Adam, Eve, Abel and Cain were the first family.

We have one family whom we all respect that is the family of Jesus. It comprises St. Joseph, Mother Mary and Jesus. This is an ideal family. It is known as Holy Family or SACRA FAMILIA or SAGRADA FAMILIA. This is a blessed family chosen by GOD Himself. As parents St. Joseph and Mother Mary imbibed and nurtured Jesus with devotion. Read more

Simao:Tuka Dev boro dis dium, baba Tadev.

Tadev:Tukai dium, Titiv, Tuji bolaiki koxi asa?

Simao:Devache kurpen hanv boro asam. Tujeo suttio kobar zaleo nhoim? Atam boro korun xikpache dis aile.

Tadev:Oi Titiv. Matxe visov favo zalo ani atam porot “adlean chalu”.

Simao:Raxtria Khellant bhag gheunk tuka sondhi meuli ki nam?

Tadev:Tea Khellanim bhag gheunk zaiti huxarkai dakounchi poddta punn hanv tea vorgant poddonam. Hanv ‘sumaracho’ khellgoddi oxem mhojean mhonnom ieta.   Read more

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures is bleaching.
Many of us want a brighter and whiter smile. When it comes to tooth whitening you have got two options.
1) in-office based tooth bleaching
2) At home tooth bleaching
Both tooth whitening options use peroxide based bleaching agents. At- home systems contain from 3% to 30% peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxide)
In- office systems contain 15% to 40% peroxide.

Generally, the longer you keep a stronger solution on your teeth the whiter your teeth become. However, the higher the percentage of peroxide in the whitening solution the shorter time it should be applied to the teeth. Keeping the gel on longer will dehydrate the tooth and increase tooth sensitivity. Read more

The current St. Sebastian, Church Parish Pastoral Council completes 6 years in office. This PPC of the St. Sebastian, Church will remain in office till the installation of the new re-constituted PPC, Which will be in June 2024.
The Parish Pastoral Council is the main pastoral body of the Parish, representing all sections of the People of God in the Parish and meant to function as the principle form of collaboration, dialogue and discernment at the Parish level, under the guidance of the Parish Priest. It is consultative in its nature and its purpose is to promote communion in the parish.
The first step taken by our parish priest Rev. Fr. Andrew Pereira was to create an awareness and conscientise the faithful about the nature of the PPC, their duties, and most importantly the requirements for anyone to be a member of the council. The requirements are: To become a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, one should be: Read more