St. Sebastian Church

We are all delighted that the 45 days Sacred Exposition of our St. Francis Xavier, went off very well starting from 21/11/24 to 05/01/25.We need to thank and praise God for ensuring an incident free exposition which was attended by several lakes of people coming from all over the world. Undoubtedly this was one of the better organised expositions and devotees were very much impressed with the overall arrangements which were in place, keeping in mind all the required details. This exposition also coincided with the celebration of the Jubilee Year 2025, for which the theme chosen by our Pope Francis was,” Pilgrims of Hope”. I only hope and pray that all our prayers during this period will bring about a renewal of our Christian life and help in spreading peace and harmony amongst us all.

St. Paul, also known as the Apostle Paul, was a Christian apostle who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity in the 1st century. His understanding of hope is deeply rooted in his Christian faith that was his personal encounter with our Lord Jesus on his way to Damascus. His understanding of Hope is highly reflected in his letters to the early Christian communities.

Ø Hope as a Theological Virtue
St. Paul considers hope to be one of the three theological virtues, along with faith and charity (1 Corinthians 13:13). He sees hope as a gift from God that enables believers to trust in His promises and to look forward to eternal life.

The Feast of the presentation of Jesus is celebrated on 2nd February (falling on Sunday this year), which is 40 days after Christmas. It marks the end of Christmas season.
The presentation of Jesus is an important event in the life of Jesus. Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, 40 days after his birth, “to present him to the Lord” as the law of Moses required. Mary and Joseph knew Jesus is God, yet they obeyed the law of Moses, presenting God to God. They knew there was no need to bring Jesus to the temple, but in humility (not wanting to appear as ‘special ones’ in the community) they followed the law. This is also what Jesus did when He presented himself to John the Baptist to be baptized, throughout His public ministry whenever Jesus cured the sick, He insisted that they follow the procedures of cleansing laid down in Jewish law.

Joy of Being a Catechist – By Sherida D’Souza
After having been with students all along, I really wanted to give back to the church by doing what I did best, “Teach.” It’s been 2 years already, a beautiful experience of being a Catechist. To be able to go through the lessons in Konkani and prepare myself to teach the same in English, was an impending challenge. A Catechist must strive to increase one’s faith daily and lead the Young Minds to say ‘Yes’ to the faith in Jesus Christ. It’s an integral part for a Catechist, of both learning-teaching experience. Being able to realize that there’s so much I can still learn, for learning never ends, is what makes it even more exceptional.
“We are the Messengers of the Good News.” A Catechist isn’t just an educator but a friend, a guide, a counselor who can echo God’s word to the children entrusted to your care, to draw them closer to God and manifest in them a life-long commitment to the service of God and the church.
Together, we can make a difference!!

St. John de Britto’s life is an inspiring story of faith, courage, and sacrifice. He was born on March 1, 1647, in Lisbon, Portugal, into a noble family. Despite his privileged upbringing, John chose to dedicate his life to God and became a Jesuit missionary. He traveled far from his homeland to South India, where he spent his life serving others and spreading the message of Christ. John grew up in a devout family. His mother’s strong faith and his father’s role as a governor influenced him greatly. When John was a child, he became very ill, and his mother prayed to St. Francis Xavier for his recovery. After he was healed, John’s mother believed it was a miracle, and this event shaped his desire to follow in the footsteps of missionaries like St. Francis Xavier.

In today’s highly competitive World, stress is a common companion to almost everybody. The unrealistic demands of work, relationships, future planning and even everyday life takes a toll on our health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The word “Health” comes from the root word “Whole” that means, feeling healthy means “to be complete”, a sense of wholeness within ourselves. For this to happen, our body should be vibrant, our physical energies must be vibrant, our mind must be joyful, and our emotions must be exuberant- only then you will feel a sense of wholeness.

The vibrant spirit of Konkani music came alive on 25th January, 2025 at the St. Sebastian Church compound Aquem , as the much-anticipated Kantaram Lharam 2025 Konkani solo and duet singing competition captivated the audience.
Organized by the St. Sebastian Parish, the event celebrated the rich musical heritage of Goa while providing a platform for talented Parishioners from all over Goa to shine. The primary aim of the competition is to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Konkani music amongst Parishioners of Parishes in Goa. The Objectives to be served are Cultural Promotion, Community engagement and Recognition of Excellence.