All of us are entitled to our own ingenuity and creativity. But how authentic are our potentials if we are not provided with proper ambience and opportunities? Activities like Church bulletins surely help to assimilate the best that the Church can offer us as well as the best that we as parishioners can offer to the Church spreading fragrance like a stunning rose. By all means, ‘PORMOLL’ has been providential and thought provoking instrument in offering the parishioners as well as others ample chances to challenge our own potential and to hone our personal skills, in order to connect to our own self, to our parishioners and to the Church, making us more viable and ardent witnesses of Christ. I am reminded of the very beautiful message from our Holy Father Pope Francis “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”
At the very inception of St. Sebastian Church bulletin PORMOLL, I was fortunate to be the member of the Editorial Board. Working as a Team, had been a wonderful and delightful experience for me and hopefully for others and consequently, I felt impelled to write my personal reflections for every issue. The more I wrote, the potential writer in me immerged and became more and more active. The journey of my personal life was predominantly expressed in the articles I wrote for PORMOLL and therefore I felt pleased to compile all these articles and more in a book form titled “My Journey’ which was later published by my brother, Anthony Barretto (Tony Martin) in 2015. Since then the word “PORMOLL” grew very dear to my heart.
The objectives of PORMOL became consciously clearer to me:
- To spread the fragrance of love and affection of the gospel and the Church itself to all, particularly the faithful.
- To influence people and spread the feeling of brotherhood and affinity.
- To maintain respect for different cultures.
- To be His witnesses to all.
On the occasion of the 21st Anniversary of the birth of ‘PORMOLL’, I feel glad to express my hearty Congratulations to the present Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Andrew Pereira, his assistant Rev. Fr. Leslie Gomes and the Editorial Board and all those from its origin who have been responsibly involved in spreading the fragrance of St. Sebastian Parish through this bulletin which is aptly christened as ‘PORMOLL’. I wish to make a singular mention of Rev. Fr. James Torres è Silva, who with the unstinted support and backing by Mr. Felix Dias as the editor and other Team members had been instrumental in initiating the remarkable idea. Also wish toacknowledge Rev. Fr. Ligorinho Da Costa who continued the good work.
May this bulletin ‘PORMOLL’ continue to spread its fragrance and bring profound blessings upon the Editorial Board, the Parish Priests, Parishioners, and upon those who are bent to better the life of others by being true witnesses of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless you all!
Sr. Faria Barretto HC
Handmaids of Christ, Calangute.
(Sr. Faria Barretto HC, is currently the Superior General of the Handmaids of Christ, Calangute, Bardez, Goa)