Purgatory or no Purgatory

Come November, does anyone ever ask, “When is All Saints Day”? or “When is All Souls Day”? 1st and 2nd November are the two days stamped on our mind and heart. All Saints Day calls every one of us to be a Saint. This means letting Jesus have full possession of our life and to live the kind of life Jesus wants His disciples to live. It means therefore to make time each day for Jesus in Personal Prayer in order to experience His transforming Love.

All Souls Day takes our mind and heart to our departed loved ones, no matter how recent or distant the parting has been. The Church brings us together to pray not just for our loved ones, but also for all the Souls who are in Purgatory. Praying for the Souls in Purgatory is an act of charity because they cannot pray for themselves.

Here below are extracts from a talk by the late Bishop Fulton Sheen on Purgatory, which I hope you will find helpful. Read more

Christ the King

As the Messiah, Jesus was called the ‘Son of David.’ During His trial and crucifixion, He was identified as the ‘King of the Jews.’ Jesus is the perfect King because He is God, and He came to live among the people. As king, He brought God into the midst of creation, to show people what God really had in mind with His kingdom.

Christ the King is one of the most important titles of Jesus. Even though, Jesus Christ was not a king in the earthly sense, He is the Divine King of the Universe, who unites all of the creation with the Father. As St. Paul tells us,1 Cor.15:25-28 for [Christ] must reign until He has put all His enemies, under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things under Him that God may be all in all. Read more

Day of Family Apostolate

Marriage and the family is recognized by the Church as an “apostolate,” an institution that is entrusted with the task of evangelization. Firstly this evangelization takes place within the context of the family, in the raising of children.

The Family Apostolate seeks to actively inspire hope and healing in family life. Our mission is to bring the love of Christ to a hurting world, fulfilling the great commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, mind, and soul.”

In today’s world Family which is the cradle of society is being challenged from both internal and external forces

It is important at the outset to mention that there is a mutual dependence between society and the family. Society depends much on the family and society in its turn influences the family. The economic, social, psychological and civil climate of today has a severe disturbing effect on family life. The famous statement of Pope John Paul II is true, that the society passes through the family. Here the question is whether the family is fully aware of the modern influences in it and is strong enough to withstand these influences. Read more

Oral Health = Overall Health 

Oral hygiene is not just about having a bright smile; it’s crucial for your overall health. Neglecting oral health can lead to various dental problems and contribute to systemic health issues. Poor dental hygiene can lead to problems that are much bigger than an unpleasant smile.Tooth decay and gum disease can affect other parts of your body, including your heart. Good oral/dental health translates to good health overall.

Dental problems such as cavities or gum disease can impair your ability to eat and speak properly, cause pain and bad breath. And what many people may not realize, is that poor dental health can have a profoundly, negative affect on areas outside of the mouth, including your heart, diabetes, pregnancy and chronic inflammation, such as arthritis — to name a few. Read more

Handbook Study – Report (Legion of Mary)

 

Handbook study was organized by the Ekvottachea arka comitium at St. Sebastian Church Aquem on 24th Sept at 3:30pm. There were 3 presidia present (Saude Saibin, Aquem, Boddveanchi Rannie, Aquem and Grace Saibin, Margao).

Fr. Leslie Gomes, Asst. to the Parish Priest welcomed the officers of the commitium, Bro. Alwyn Noronha and Bro. Thomee Noronha and all the members present for the study. 40 members were present for the same.

The session was divided into two parts wherein one was allotted to Bro. Alwyn and the topic was Mullave Kaide Legiao-achi Buniad. Read more

Vatter Gozal – November 2023

Tadev: Devache kurpen bhorlolo dis tuka anvddetam, Simao Titiv.

Simao:  Tuka-i anvddetam Baba Tadev. Zaitea kallan ami meutat nhoim? Tumi sogllim borim asat mhonn sozmotam.

Tadev:  Ami asanv borim. Hanv thoddo kall Goeam bhair gel’lom, taka lagun tuka mellonk vell mellunk nam. Tum koso asa?

Simao:  Hanv asam boro, punn hea disamnim bhirantin dis sarche poddtat.

Tadev: Kosli bhirant Titiv?

Simao:  Rosteancher kitle-xech obsoeg ghoddtat. Roste surokxit nant. Tea bhair kitle khun ani maramari. Ghorant ravonkui suseg asonam, zalear rosteancher bhonvonkui surokxa mellonam.   Read more

Sondex – October 2023

Mogall Firgozkaramno,

Henry Ford oxem mhonnta, “Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Konn mhonnta hinch utram Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909), Amerikacho boroinnar, kovi, itihaskar ani pastor hannem mhonnlolim mhonn. Him utram konnem mhonnlolim tem gorjechem nhoi, punn voilim utram konn jielo ani jieta tem gorjechem. 

Aquem-cho atam choltolo Parish Pastoral Council fattlim sumar panch vorsam jielo ani jieta. Tea vorsa soglleo somudaieo vo wards novean nemle ani goroz thoim vaddoile. Thoim somudaieche fuddari vinchun kaddle ani tea uprant tanchi akarnni (formation) kelea uprant anik ek pautt tanche modem venchnnuk korun  Parish Council ghoddunk vangddi vinchun kaddle. Tim sogllim challis (40) vangddi aslim. Thoddim eka-mekak legun ollkhonaslim. Tim sogllim ekthaim ieun tannim survat keli. Coming together was the beginning.  Read more

Editorial – October 2023

Non violence is the best possible way to resolve issues and conflicts. Even more so, when religious beliefs and misunderstandings raise their ugly heads leading to lot of unhealthy tensions within communities. In such circumstances we need a philosophy that achieves amicable resolutions without causing harm to others and not ‘eye for an eye’ that leaves the world blind. When violence is the answer, the people involved quickly reach a point where they are only interested in defeating their opponents and more often than not forgetting the original issue. The main goal or the objective of the initial movement and struggle is sadly lost in the process. Many a times religious fanatics and rumour mongers, play a dirty role in adding fuel to the fires and inciting trouble in tense situations.

Non violence has but one prescription for all social diseases effecting the entire world. We all know the amount of destruction and loss of lives and property the past world wars caused. The after effects were horrible, sad and devastating to say the least. There is no doubt that social issues are complex and not simple in nature calling for different approach and appropriate solutions. Non-violence has the great power on the world to be more successful than if one were to use violence. Read more

St. Therese of Child Jesus

(Patron Saint of Missions)

Feat Day: 1st October

St. Therese, often called the Little Flower, was born in Normandy, France, in 1873. She was the youngest of the five daughters born to Lois and Zelie Martin. Therese was a very lively, loveable little girl. Her father called her his “little queen: Yet she could be overly sensitive. In the story she wrote of her life, The Story of a Soul, she tells how the Infant Jesus helped her overcome this weakness.

It was Therese’s great desire to enter the Carmelite convent where two of her sisters were already nuns. But since she was only fifteen, permission was not granted. Therese felt sure that Jesus wanted her to spend her life loving Him and only Him. She kept praying and asking the prioress to admit her. She even dared, on a trip to Rome, to ask Pope Leo XIII himself to grant her heart’s desire, and finally she was allowed to enter.

Read more

The Sacrifice of the Mass

The Mass is the very center of our Faith. It is the greatest, holiest and most mystical (meaning strange, mysterious) act on earth. It is the highest form of prayer; an act of adoration we make before God. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is both a Sacrifice and a Meal. It is a Sacrifice because it represents the One, Perfect Sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary and we participate in that Sacrifice. It is a Meal – re-presents the Last Supper of Jesus. In the Mass we have Holy Communion with God and also with one another. 

The Mass goes all the way back to the time of the Apostles. Immediately after the Ascension of Jesus, the Apostles continued to worship in the Temple that they regularly attended, and took part in the written word i.e the Scriptures. Then they would go to someone’s house for the Breaking of the Bread, because Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me”,when He took the Bread and then the Wine at the last Supper and transformed them into His Body and Blood. So at every Mass, the Church is responding to that Command of Christ.  Read more