St. Sebastian Church

The first day of July 2022 dawned as usual leading us to the routine of the early morning hustle and bustle. In the midst of it all, came the shocking and very sad news, that our beloved shepherd, Archbishop Emeritus Raul Nicolau Gonsalves had breathed his last. He completed 95 years of age on 15th June this year. After being ordained a priest on 21/12/1950, Archbishop Raul Gonsalves, Shepherded our Archdiocese for 37 long years in his capacity as Auxiliary Bishop, Bishop and finally as the Archbishop. He was an Indian prelate, the first Catholic Goan to be the Archbishop of Goa and Patriarch of the East indies. Our late Archbishop led the Church of Goa through uncertain times following Goa’s Liberation in 1961 and the financial reorganisation of the Archdiocese and its economic stability has been credited to him. He also constituted the first Diocesan Pastoral Council and prepared a historic pastoral plan for our Archdiocese focusing on the establishment of Parish pastoral councils and small Christian communities in our Parishes. He led the Church of Goa in welcoming our late Pope St. John Paul II to Goa in the year 1986. His willingness to do what he could, and leave in the hands of our Lord, what he knew he could not do, were the highlights of his qualities. At the time of his death, he was a priest for 71 years and a Bishop for 55 years. He was laid to rest in the Se Cathedral, Old Goa on 4th July, where hundreds of faithful and members of the Church hierarchy gathered to bid a tearful adieu. May the soul of our beloved Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonsalves enjoy heavenly bliss. Read more

22nd August

Mary is both a queen and a mother, but she is more a mother than a queen. Mary’s Queenship and “mothership,” or motherhood, spark to life simultaneously. In the very moment Mary becomes a mother at the Annunciation, she also becomes a queen. The Archangel Gabriel tells Mary that her Son will sit on “the throne of his ancestor David” and that “He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:32-33). Since Jesus is a king, and since He is conceived in the womb of Mary, and since in Israel the mother of a king was always a queen, (the daughter not necessarily so), Mary becomes a queen. Some texts from the early centuries of the Church call Mary the “domina,” the female of “dominus,” Latin for “master” or “Lord.” Read more

23rd August

St. Rose of Lima, the first person born in the Western Hemisphere to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. She is the patron saint of Peru and all of South America as well as of embroiderers, gardeners, and florists.

Born into a noble family, Rosa (the name by which she was always known) was drawn to penitential practices and a spiritual life at a young age. Her mother wanted her to marry and initially refused to allow her daughter to pursue religious life. To deter suitors, the beautiful Rosa cut off her hair and blistered her skin with hot peppers. The struggle between them lasted 10 years, during which time Rosa made a perpetual vow of virginity, taking St. Catherine of Siena as her model. In 1606 her mother relented and allowed Rosa to become a Dominican of the third order, though her parents did not permit her to live in a convent. Instead, Rosa chose strict enclosure and contemplation and withdrew to the seclusion of a hut in the family garden, where she endured a life of severe austerity and asceticism. She regularly wore a crown of thorns, practiced fasting, slept only a few hours at night on a bed of potsherds, self-flagellated, and experienced numerous visions, particularly of the Devil. Though she was largely a recluse, Rosa was devoted to the sick and hungry in her community and often brought them to her hut to care for them. She was skilled in needlework and sold her fine lace and embroidery and the flowers that she grew in her garden to help her family and to raise funds for the poor. Her funeral was an occasion of public honour, and many miracles were said to have occurred after her death. Read more

10th August

Saint Lawrence, (Lawrence also spelled Laurence) one of the most venerated Roman martyrs, is celebrated for his Christian valour. He is the patron saint of the poor and of cooks.
Lawrence was among the seven deacons of the Roman church serving Pope Sixtus II, whose martyrdom preceded Lawrence’s by a few days: they were executed during the persecution under the Roman emperor Valerian. It is said that Lawrence gave the church’s treasures to the poor and the sick before his arrest. Although Lawrence was probably beheaded, St. Ambrose of Milan and the Latin poet Prudentius, among others, recorded that he was roasted to death on a gridiron, remarking to his torturers at one point, “I am cooked on that side; turn me over, and eat.” Many conversions to Christianity throughout Rome reportedly followed Lawrence’s death, including those of several senators witnessing his execution. The Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence outside the Walls), Rome, was built over his burial place. He is named in the canon of the Roman mass. Read more

As the month of August draws near, the one date that comes to mind is the 15th of August, which evokes two titles – “Mother India” for Independence Day, and ‘Mother Mary’ for Assumption Day.

With simple faith I believe in the Assumption of Mother Mary, body and soul into heaven, because it is the Dogma of the Church. And also because Mother Mary’s apparitions have always been of a beautiful lady, speaking to children in their own language, instead of a misty figure in the sky.

Since I am not qualified to write on the Assumption of Mother Mary with authority, I did a search on YouTube and came across the following, easy to understand, explanation, which I hope helps you.  Read more

Synopsis

On August 4th , the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St John Vianney-the patron of priests. The day is commemorated as Pastors Day and is dedicated to all “Pastors” who work tirelessly, vigorously, and unselfishly for the Church.
Jean Baptiste Marie Vianney was born on May 8, 1786, in Dardilly, South-East France. He was the fourth of six children born to Matthieu Vianney and Marie, who were pious Christians. The day is dedicated to “Pastors” since John Vianney, was canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 31, 1925, and named the patron of pastors in 1929. The Pope also encouraged all priests to look at Saint Vianney as an example of dedication to one’s priestly vocation. The incorrupt body of Saint Vianney is entombed above the main altar in the Basilica of Ars. With his life of penance and prayer, he was able to revive the faith of his parishioners at Ars, who otherwise had fallen into a comfortable life away from faith. He spent hours at the confessional, and history tells us that his work as a confessor is John Vianney’s most remarkable accomplishment.

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Monsoon surely brings relief from scorching heat but it also sets the breeding ground for mosquitoes. As rainwater puddles aid an exponential spike in the mosquito population, monsoon is a high-risk season in terms of mosquito-borne diseases. Here is a list of mosquito-borne diseases we have to look out for this monsoon, and what we can do to keep ourselves protected. Read more

Simao: Dev boro dis dium baba Tadev.
Tadev: Tukai dium Simao Titiv. Tum zaitea disamnim dislo, dekun borem dislem.
Simao: Hea disamnim zaito pavs poddlo nhoim, dekun choddso bhair sorunk nam. Tujem iskol koxem cholta? Atam soglem niamit (regular) zalem nhoim?
Tadev: Oi Titiv. Atam soglem ttika-ttik cholta punn sogleanche motint matxe ‘COVID’ –ak lagon bhoim asa kiteak zaitea bhurgeanim vaccine gheunk nam.
Simao: Devanuch tumkam samballchem. Hem duens portun hea disamnim matxe vhaddlam munn sangtat, dekun kallji gheunk gorjechem.  Read more

The Good Samaritan FundThe Good Samaritan Fund seeks to provide funding to individuals and families with verifiable emergency needs when other services or funds are unavailable. Funds may be approved for utilities, medical expenses, child care and education, shelter/payment of rent and other critical needs. A referral is mandatory to seek approval of help under this fund.The Archdiocese of Goa with a noble and worthy vision to assist the poor and needy, has initiated this Good Samaritan Fund at the Diocesan Level and also at the Parish Level. If the need is extreme and amount is too big, i.e. above Rs. 20,000 then an amount of Rs. 10,000 will be given from the Good Samaritan Parish Fund and remaining Rs. 10,000 will be given by Good Samaritan Archdiocesan Fund, for which necessary request letters will have to be made.This fund can be raised by way of donations, fund raising activities, major feasts, offerings on occasion of weddings, anniversaries, etc.In our parish The Cofre Committee has resolved and commenced this Good Samaritan Fund which will be managed by a three-member committee, whose term of office will be three years. Read more