St. Sebastian Church

Every person longs for happiness in this world. How do we quantify this complex phenomenon? Who is happier than whom? Science tells us that certain hormones are known to help promote positive feelings in our systems. The most important function of hormones is to help in regulating our moods of happiness and pleasure or otherwise. Is wealth the ultimate requisite for happiness? Does only big cars’, sprawling bungalows, riches and fat bank balances make us happy? I guess not because several surveys have shown that wealth in any forms does not generate true happiness. Harvard University conducted a survey which showed, a person maintaining cordial relationship with family and friends, having friendly rapport with all those around you, was the happiest person, enjoying maximum happiness. The happiness hormone, namely, “SEROTONIN” plays a vital role in this process. Let us strive to lead a happy life and in the process ensure happiness to all around us, not through our riches but by maintaining cordial and co-operative attitudes towards our fellow beings. Our friendly gestures make a world of good to the people around who will always cherish having such people by their sides.
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Continuation……
The “Jack”
The ‘Jack’ in the playing cards symbolizes ‘the Prince of Darkness’- the Devil or Satan. The devil is also powerful but not as powerful as our Almighty God. The Satan came to Eve in the form of a serpent and tempted Eve and Adam to eat the fruit from the tree which God had forbidden them to eat, and thus they committed sin and lost grace (Genesis 3). The Satan also tried to tempt Jesus but Jesus didn’t fall prey to Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). All Synoptic Gospels identify Satan as the leader of demons. Luke 10:18 refers to “Satan falling from heaven” and Matthew 25:41 mentions “the Devil and his angels”, who will be thrown into hell. The devil is always around us and is roaring like a lion, he devours those he can. All our bad thoughts, words and actions come from devil. All the good things come from God. Let’s listen to God and follow His commandment and not of Satan. We are the children of Light (God/Jesus) and not of darkness. Read more

When we hear the word Liberation day, what is our first thought? Holiday! It is only then that some of us may retrospect on why we get this holiday. Then, we think, Oh! We have to attend flag hoisting and of course, then, from the speeches, we get to know a miniscule of our Freedom struggle.
19th December 2021 marks the 60th anniversary of our Freedom; Freedom from the Portuguese Rule. They ruled over us for 450 years imbibing in us some of their values, culture, religion and so on. Ask any Goan today who lived in those times; you will get a mixed reaction on the Portuguese Regime. Some even lament that they were defeated by the Indian forces. Read more

Come the season of Christmas and you are filled with excitement at the thought of all those social functions like weddings, carol singing, Christmas parties etc. Several out-of-town relatives may be arriving for an extended visit. But then there is a tinge of apprehension at the thought of all that excess food that’s heading your way.

Since you’ve touched forty your metabolism has shifted downhill by several notches and you’ve learnt to keep a close watch on your weight, your exercise and your food intake and you are careful to not consume more calories than you can burn. You know it’s not going to be easy with the free flow of our appetizing Goan food at all those social occasions!! Read more

As I write this article, I admit that the contents are those I have come to know and understand now – rather late in my life. If known earlier, Christmas would have been for me, not about Baby Jesus, but about the unquestionable Power of Jesus.

We all know the story of creation as in Genesis 1 or 2. Putting it very briefly – God spoke the Universe into existence beginning with the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. This was followed by the separation of the land and the sea, the creation of vegetation, all kinds of birds, animals and creatures of the sea. Read more

The saint who is nicknamed Santa Claus

The true story of Santa Claus begins with St. Nicholas, who was born in 280 A.D. in the town of Patara on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Catholic, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Hence he used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.
He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. Read more

St. Nicholas Protector St. Nicholas Protector and helper of the needy. The following accounts of St. Nicholas help us to understand his extraordinary character and why he is so loved and revered as protector and helper of those in need

• St. Nicholas giving dowry to a poor man with three daughters In those days a young woman’s father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man’s daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Hence on three different occasions, Nicholas tossed stockings filled with gold in their home, providing the needed dowries. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas the gift-giver! The stockings filled with gold, tossed through the open window, led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas on Christmas eve.

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A manger is a rack for fodder, or a structure or feeder used to hold food for animals. Mangers are mostly used in livestock raising and generally found at stables and farm houses. Jesus is the King, but had no place to be born, and finally was born in a barn (shed for animals), was kept in a manger and was surrounded by the animals at the barn. But today the manger where Jesus was kept is empty.

Why am I stressing on the empty Manger?
Jesus is not there in the manger because He wants to be born in the manger of our heart. If our hearts are tuned to the worldly pleasures and materialistic things that draws our attention to a very large extent then there is no place for Jesus to be born into our hearts. Joseph and Mary went in search of a place to give birth to Jesus but no one had a place for him. So let us introspect and see if our hearts are ready to welcome Jesus or do we still want to keep the manger (our hearts) empty. Read more

Tadev:  Simao Titiv, Dev Boro dis dium. Tum hea vellar khoim gel’lo ani hi poti kosli?

Simao:  Dev tuka kurpa dium Tadev.  Ek rajki pokxache monis saman vanttale dekun hanvuim tem           saman he potient gheun ailam.

Tadev: ‘Covid’ piddek lagun zaiteo sonvstha lokak jevonn ani gorjecheo vostu haddun ditale. Hem         kam atam he pokx korunk lagleat kitem? Read more

I am the candle of HOPE
Hope for the hopeless and hope for the lost
No matter the price, Christ has paid the cost.
Jesus has come and was willing to pay,
being born as a babe that first Christmas day…. Read more