St. Sebastian Church

Occasions such as Feasts, Anniversaries, Independence days, Republic days, etc. are opportunities for us not only to celebrate and make merry but more so to take stock of what we have done and what we have failed to do and decide upon what corrective action we can take to undo the harm that we may have created by way of our inaction or bad decisions. As India completes 74 years of Independence, among many other factors that contribute to the development of our Nation, a look into our environment would not be out of place.

Pope Francis’ Encyclical “Laudato Si” of 24th May 2015, on ‘Care for our common home’ is a worldwide wake up call to help humanity understand the destruction that we human being have wrecked on the Environment and our fellow human beings. This document is in many ways the epitome of the Holy Father. It presents the Gospel truths with relation to the philosophical, theological and cultural causes that threaten the relationships of humans both with nature and other human beings. Read more

The health scares surrounding COVID-19 have all of us thinking about immune system strength.

When you think about boosting your immune system, the first things that come to mind are likely healthy eating, adequate rest, taking vitamins, or reducing stress. Even though we’ve all heard the advice “get plenty of fluids,” it’s easy to take the importance of drinking enough water for granted. It’s a fact you’ve been hearing since school … “Your body is made up of as much as 70% water.” With all that water in our bodies, it’s no surprise that hydration is important on many levels—including the health of our immune system.

Your body’s immune system is your first line of defence against disease, and water is a secret weapon you need to stay healthy. Read more

Tadev:  Dev Boro dis dium, Simao Titiv. Tuji bolaiki koxi asa?

Simao:  Tukai dium Tadev. Devache kurpen asam boro.

Tadev:  Tujem mukhamoll chintest-xem dista. Kitem zalem tor? Chodd pavs poddon, tuka luksann zalem?

Simao:  Nam, amkam kaim luksann zaunk nam, Devak argam. TV ani potramcher pollelear kitlo lok trasant poddla. Ghoram moddlim, xetam roilelim vanvon ghelim, buddti aili, thodde roste nanch zale, zhaddam poddun thoddeancho jiv pasun ghelo.

Tadev: Oi, pollounk ani aikunk vaitt dista. Amkam xharanim ravteleank vhodd ontor zaunk nam. Tambonastanam kitle dis pavs poddon ami ghorant bhitoruch aslim. Read more

O fair Lady, lily white,
Star of the sea, my heart’s delight,
Illuminating dark of night,
How wondrously thou was assumed,
Body and soul, into heaven
Radiant moon, mirror of the Sun,
Reflecting His Light, Immaculate One. Read more

Akhea vorsa bhitor zaite toreche dis monoupak suru zaleat. July mhoino mhonntoch Bhagevont Joaquim ani Anna, Saibinn maie-chim avoi-bapui ani sonvsari nodren Jezu monis zal’leachim xepai ani xemai. Hi tanchi porob July-ache 26ver somorombhtat. Hem monant dovrun teach disa July-ache 26ver xepai-xemai cho dis kortat.

Xepai ani xemai zaunk ek lhan xem punn apurbaiechem bhag. Karann, eke vatten atam zaiteanger ek vo fokt don bhurgim astat. Thoddeanger bhurginch zainant. Thoddim atam natram asunk tanchim bhurgim kazaruch zainant. Ankvar ravtat. Mhonntoch barik nodren ek xepai-xemai zaunk ek lhan xi punn sadhi milagr. Read more

We are pleased to bring out the July issue of Pormoll but on the PDF format, as was the case for the month of June. We have received accolades for deciding to go paperless which in effect has led to a contactless distribution as well. But I am sure many of you might have divergent views and would prefer to have a hard copy as hitherto. You may be aware that our magazine was being printed outside Goa as their cost of printing was much less compared to the rates quoted locally. The entire process saw the involvement of lot of outside people towards printing and the final delivery of our copies. With the Covid virus showing no signs of receding and the Curfew / Lockdown in force, we had literally no choice but to discontinue with the hard copy. We also had concern for our Parish Council Members, who went about, house to house, distributing the monthly copy. We gratefully, acknowledge and appreciate this selfless service rendered by them. I may add, that even our monthly meetings are held virtually on Google Meet. Another parishioner also had an issue with storing the old copies of Pormoll. We would be happy to have more responses and suggestions in this regard. Read more

Once a young energetic catechist Johnson by name, went to visit his Catechism Students. As he was going through the village he saw some children playing with cards. He went to them and sat beside them. The children became little upset and nervous not knowing what their catechism teacher would say to them. “Do you all like to play with these playing cards”? They just murmured in their mouth, “yes”. Johnson smiled towards them and said, “Do you know that there is our catechism hidden in these playing cards”? The children replied, “No”. So, the children became curious to know the hidden catechism in the playing cards. Johnson too was excited to quench their curiosity, to witness Christ and to proclaim the good news to the children. Then Johnson began to unveil them the catechism hidden in the playing Cards. Read more

Many years ago, at a railway station in Mumbai, my eyes fell on a leper walking slowly, some distance away. From nowhere a dog came rushing towards him barking ferociously. The man stood frozen. Seeing his plight, I said frantically ‘Jesus please help him”. In that very instant the dog quietened and just walked away. Then that man continued on his way. This Power in the Name of Jesus is etched in my mind since then.

More recently in Cansaulim, one morning I was walking to Church for Mass. The road was deserted except for 4 dogs playing together ahead of me. I crossed the road to avoid them but they spotted me and came rushing to me. I am used to dogs, so I stood still. They surrounded me playfully one on my left, another on my right and the third in front, blocking me. The fourth and oldest one stood some distance away looking angrily at me and kept barking sharply. I wondered if he wanted me for breakfast. With no one around I shouted twice (as if Jesus is deaf) “Jesus – please – help me”. The next second a biker came from the front and on nearing me revved up and went right past. The 4 dogs gave full chase forgetting me altogether. With continuous “thank you Jesus” I made my way to Church. Read more

The Church celebrates the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel every year on the 16th of July. During the apparitions at Fatima in the year 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary normally wore a white habit with gold trim and a gold belt at her waist. But during her apparition to the children when the miracle of the sun occurred, she appeared wearing the Carmelite brown habit representing the glorious mysteries of the Rosary. Before that, Mary had appeared to Bernadette Soubirous at Lourdes around 18 times (from February to July 1858). On 16th of July (commemoration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel), Bernadette went for the last time to the Grotto and reported, “I have never seen her so beautiful before.”

Read more

Saint Maria Goretti or Saint Goretti is a Saint of the last Century and the youngest saint to be honoured by the Church.

She was born as Maria Tereza Goretti on 16th October 1890 to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Goretti in Corinaldo, Southern Italy.

They were seven children of a farming family she being the third. Her father died of Malaria when she was just 9 years old.
After the death of their father they shifted to another house which they shared with another family known as Serenelli.

Maria’s Mother and other siblings use to work in their farm, while she remained in the house to do the household chores and also look after the youngest sibling. Read more