St. Sebastian Church

Brushing and flossing are the best ways to help prevent cavities, but it is not always possible to clean every nook and corner of your teeth especially your back teeth. So, there is another safety net to help keep those back teeth (molars) clean. It is called ‘pit and fissure sealants ‘.

Pit and fissure sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your teeth from tooth decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay. Read more

My heart is filled with gratitude for the Almighty, as I step into yet another new year welcoming it with joy, happiness and new hope.
New year – New resolutions, every year we set new resolutions/goals, start them on a high note and suddenly they fizzle out, only to realize at the end of the year that you haven’t achieved anything. This year shouldn’t be the same. If you haven’t decided on any goal to achieve then decide now, for I will give you a few tips that will help you “hit the target right”.· Read more

Tadev: Dev Boro dis dium, Simao Titiv. Sokallim-sokallim, vortoman-potr gheun, kosli mahiti vachtai? Kosli khobor ailea?

Simao: Tukai dium Tadev.  Khobor ani kosli? Ailelea disa tench. Vachun – vachun vitt ailea.

Tadev:  Kitem ailam tor, tuka itli vitt-xi aili?

Simao: Hea disamnim rajkarann amkam pixem laita. He amche fuddari asat te eka pokxant thaun, dusrea pokxant uddki marit asat ani amchim potram hi khobor vaddoun – vaddoun ek vhoddlo vag marlelea porim amkam vachunk ditat. Read more

Mogall Firgozkaramno,
Dezembr mhoino suru zatanch thonddi vaddta ani Natalancho ugddas ieta ani sogllo lok toiarek lagta. Jezuchea zolmant akho sonvsar veg-vegllea karannak lagun kuxal zata.

Jezuchea zolma somoiar zaiteo vostu amkam niallunk melltat. Tantuntli ek mhollear, Jezuchea zolma adim ani Tachea zolmank lagun Marie-k ani Juzek, Jezuk gheun zaitem hanga-thoim bonvchem poddlem. Survatekuch, Juzek aplem nanv aplea ganv-ghora lavunk gorbest aslole Maria-k Nazareth thaun Bethlehem gheun ieuchem poddlem. Bethlehem tankam zago nam zaun tim hanga-thoim ghor sodit bonvlim. Bhov gorjechea vellar ekleanui tankam asro dilo nam. Tea pasot ganva bhair, dongrar, gorvam ghotteant tannim asro ghetlo ani Marie-n Jezuk zolm dilo. Nhesunk kaim nam zaun tannim Jezuk fallianim guttlaun khavnnent dovorlo. Read more

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