St. Sebastian Church

September is an unique month of the year. Out of all twelve months, September is spelt with the most number of letters. Yes this month contains nine letters and it also happens to be the ninth month of the year. Several days are observed in September, including Teacher’s Day, International Literacy Day, World First Aid Day, Mother’s Day, Day of the Girl Child and many more. We celebrate the Birthday of our heavenly mother, Mother Mary, on 8th September, with a lot of joy and enthusiasm. She is our Mother always ready and ever willing to intercede for us. Befittingly, we decided to dedicate the September issue of Pormoll to a MOTHER and chose the theme, “Mother’s Love is forever”.

INTRODUCTION:

On 22nd of September, that is the 25th Sunday of ordinary time, the Catholic Church in our Archdiocese acknowledges the vital role of the laity and pray for each and everyone for a participatory mission in evangelization. It is a clear expression of the fundamental demand of every Christian vocation, namely, the universal call to holiness. John Paul II underlines this idea when he states: “We come to a full sense of the dignity of the lay faithful if we consider the prime and fundamental vocation that the Father assigns to each of them in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit: the vocation to holiness, that is, the perfection of charity” (Christifideles Laici, 16). This reference is all the more significant because it is formulated from a Trinitarian perspective which is, of course, a logical consequence of belonging to this Church, a mystery of communion in which the identity and the unity of the laity is revealed.

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is liturgically celebrated every 15th of September. Due to this feast, the month of September has been set aside to honour Our Lady of Sorrows. The title ‘Our Lady of Sorrows’ honours the trials of Mother Mary and therefore this feast follows immediately after the feast of the Exaltation of the holy Cross on 14th September. This feast, like all other feasts, gives glory to God for the work of our salvation that God has accomplished through His creature, Mary. This feast reminds us of the profound union of heart that existed between Mother Mary and Jesus, our saviour, through which she experienced many interior sorrows, particularly the anguish when she watched the Passion and finally the Death of Jesus. That is why, as we face our own sorrows, pain and temptations, we should turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and meditate on her Seven Dolours.

St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660) was a French Catholic priest renowned for his extraordinary dedication to the poor and his significant contributions to the development of charitable works in the Church. His life and work left a lasting legacy on Christian charity and social justice, making

Key Aspects of St. Vincent de Paul’s Motherly Influence:

• Care for Orphans and the Needy: St. Vincent de Paul founded organizations like the Daughters of Charity and the Ladies of Charity, which were primarily focused on providing care for orphans, the sick, and the poor. These organizations, often led by women, were inspired by his deep compassion, akin to a mother’s care.
• Advocate for the Marginalized: Vincent was a strong advocate for those on the margins of society, much like a protective mother would be. He worked tirelessly to improve conditions for the poor, ensuring they received not just physical care, but also spiritual support.
• Education and Spiritual Guidance: He was instrumental in establishing seminaries and training priests, focusing on the education of both the clergy and the laity. His guidance was nurturing, aimed at building a more compassionate and service-oriented Church.
• Dedication and Selflessness: His life was marked by selflessness and dedication to others, qualities often associated with maternal care. He devoted his life to serving others, often at great personal sacrifice.

Early Life and Priesthood

A teacher: Our role-models, second parents and for the rest of our lives, an undying guide. When we commit mistakes, a good teacher will not hesitate to point them out to us. Also, they help us to walk on the right path and endow us with life skills. A teacher besides involving with main objective of teaching, also moulds the heart and mind of students. A teacher is a person who helps others to learn and prepare children for their life

‘The dogma of the Immaculate Conception makes Mary holy from her conception, purified from all evil and preserved from sin to become the mother of Jesus.’

Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Virgin Mary of whom was born, our Lord Jesus Christ. 8th September, is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated nine months after the Solemnity of her Immaculate Conception, on 8th December.

In the heart of Kolkata, India, a woman once walked the narrow streets, her small frame draped in a simple white sari with blue stripes. This woman, known to the world as St. Teresa of Kolkata, or Mother Teresa, dedicated her life to serving the “poorest of the poor,” a phrase that echoes her deep commitment to the marginalized and destitute.

The Grandparents Day celebration, organized by the Catechetical Association, was held on July 21st 2024 at St. Sebastian Parish, Aquem. The event began with a solemn Mass at 9:00 AM, which included a special blessing for the grandparents, where they were sprinkled with holy water as a sign of God’s grace and protection.

Following the Mass, a short program was arranged to honour the grandparents of the catechism students. The program featured a variety of performances, including a welcome song, a dance, a skit, and a retro dance, all of which were performed by the catechism students. These performances were the result of the hard work and dedication of both the students and the catechists. The catechists also played a crucial role in helping with the decorations and other arrangements. Additionally, the parents made significant efforts by transporting their children to and from practice sessions.

In collaboration with the Diocesan Catechetical Centre and the Exposition Committee, we, the St. Sebastian Catechetical Association hosted an exciting First Round of Bible Quiz Competition at the Diocesan Parish Level on 14th July 2024 during catechism class. The competition aimed to:

• Create awareness among the catechism students of the upcoming Exposition of the sacred Relic of St. Francis Xavier and the Jubilee year 2025.
• Foster an interest in reading and studying the lives of saints and spreading knowledge of the Vatican Council II.
• Inculcate in youngsters the zeal to study more about their faith and Church teachings
• Provide a platform to young competitors to witness their faith and showcase their talents.