St. Sebastian Church

Every child is a child of God’ as mother Teresa quoted. On September 5th every year we celebrate girl child day, teachers’ day and the feast of mother Teresa as she is fondly known. Mother Teresa was born in Skopje on 26 August 1910. She was baptized the very next day and she always called this day as a ‘true birthday’. Her baptismal name was Agnes Gonxha (means little flower) Bojaxhiu. Indeed compared to a rose that bloomed, its fragrance spread across the nations and continues to bless the world. That rose is mother Teresa. She lives in the heart of millions as the mirror that reflected the face of God. Read more

The fascinating Journey of my Vocation.
At a very tender age, I allowed myself to be captivated by Jesus.
I strongly believe that my Vocation to Priesthood was initiated by the warmth and loving touch of my Sister. The nostalgic memory of her holding my hands, tenderly accompanying me to Church for the daily Mass enkindled the spark to be a Priest of God.
Each day as I served at the Holy Eucharist, the desire to be a priest enhanced my joy. My parents were my pillars of strength and support. Their simple lifestyle, hard work and discipline infused in me strong values. Through constant prayer and reflection, I finally entered the Society for Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) known as Pilar Fathers and since then there was no turning back. Read more

But as for me He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy for I am holy” (1 Peter 1; 15 – 16)

God calls us in mysterious ways. Each member in the Religious Congregations /Societies/Secular Institutes and a Consecrated person have a story to tell. Each one is unique and so is their Vocation Story.

As for me the seeds of my vocation were planted by my parents. Even as a child and whilst growing up, my parents, my five siblings and I would pray the family rosary, and read Holy Scriptures daily. Many times I was given the opportunity to lead the rosary. We attended mass and novenas and I always asked God to bless my plans. From childhood I had a desire to follow Jesus. My vocation was nurtured by my parents and continues to be watered and encouraged by many people who come into my life. Read more

Democracy is what everyone speaks of and fair enough, most enjoy and appreciate it. But mindsets of people especially towards Christians is still the same but at a much lesser extent as compared to what and how it dated 450 years ago and to be specific during the time of inquisition. The way most orthodox look down upon the muslim and hindu- inter religious marriage, so do even the educated class and to be specific the ‘Brahmins’ of Goa look down upon Christians. I had personal experiences of the same. Read more

Your faith in God can make any sickness disappear’.

My name is Pearson Fernandes aged 24 and just like every person suffering from Covid-19, I was one of them. Covid-19 wasn’t just a sickness for the world but It was a battle against death or you could say survival.

I was tested positive in April.

Before Being tested I experienced symptoms such as body fatigue and headaches.

After being tested positive I had to be quarantined in the hospital. But due to limited symptoms, I was told to be quarantined at home. The first day I spent in the hospital and some more symptoms arose. I got fever and it followed with vomiting. So I had to be under observation for a while and then I was prescribed certain medication and I was told to be quarantined and to visit the hospital the next day again. Read more

Dental health is an important part of your overall health. It is also an important part of your pre-natal care. Pregnancy increases the risk of certain dental health problems that may lead to pregnancy complications. For e.g some studies show a link between gum disease and premature birth. Premature birth is birth that happens too early ,before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Taking good care of your mouth ,teeth and gums during pregnancy can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.  Read more

Tadev: Simao Titiu, Dev boro dis dium. Tum ani tujim ghorchim koxim asat?
Simao: Baba Tadev, ami sogllim borim asanv, Devache kurpen. Punn tum chintest-so distai, kitem zalem ani ho tuzo ‘mobile’ gheun khoim vetai? online class-ik network sodtai kitem?
Tadev: Nam, Titiv, hanv tukach mellonk ietalom.
Simao: mhaka mellonk, anink kiteak?
Tadev: Zannaim Titiv, mhaka konnem ek video-cher sondex pattoila tachi mhaka matxe somzonni divxi?
Simao: Koslo sondex? Read more

Mogall Firgozkaramno,
Fr. Stan Swamy (sarkhem nanv Fr. Stanislaus Lourduswamy) July-ache 5ver 2021, Mumbai hospitalant hea sonvsarak ontorlo. Tacho zolm 26ver April, 1937 hea vorsa Viragalur, Tamil Nadu zal’lo. 1957 vorsa to Jesuit sounstent bhitor sorlo ani aplem gorjechem xikop zalea uprant padriponnachi makhnni ghetli. Tea uprant tannem unchlem somajik xikop Phillipines ani Belgium korun degree ghetleo. Tachea itlea sogott xikpak ani uxearkaiek lagun tannem zaiteo zutt’teo choloileo. Punn tachea khasgi umedik lagun tannem Tribals ani Dalits heam durboll lokam modem Jharkhand aplo chodd vavr korunk tharailem. Tea lokache zaite hok samballunk to bharim vavurlo ani zaiteo sovloteo tankam adkollim modem jikhun ghetleo. Zaitea gorib lokak ekthaim kele ani tanche modem zagrutai haddli. Haka lagun Fr. Stan Swamy ek Industrialist ani serkari mon’xancho dusman zaun poddlo. Read more

“Even a caged bird can sing” is the emotional outburst from Fr. Stan Swamy who said goodbye to this cruel world on 5th July, 2021. The 84 year-old Jesuit priest was an activist who, till his last breath, fought and championed the rights and causes of the Adivasis, Dalits and marginalized living in pitiable conditions in remote villages of India, especially in the state of Jharkhand. He used his might to educate them and instill confidence in them to fight for their rights and free themselves from bonded captivity. As was expected, he was despised by the mighty, harassed, persecuted and finally jailed last October on trumped up charges under draconian laws and treated as a Maoist. He was literally tortured in jail by denying treatment for his various ailments including Parkinson’s disease. Even a sipper to drink liquids was made available to him only after his appeal to the Courts. His appeal for bail was rejected several times until he was admitted to a private hospital when his condition deteriorated after getting infected with Covid in the jail. But it was too late to prevent his death in custody. What a sad end to a most cruel and inhumane story.

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Continuation…..

THE “3”

The “3” of the playing card represents the Most Holy Trinity. The English word “Trinity” comes from Latin “Trinitas”, meaning “the number three”. Trinity, in Christian doctrine, is the unity

of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in one Godhead-God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is considered to be one of the central Christian affirmations about God. These three persons have equal status and are equally divine. The trinity represents heavenly most holy family. Each person of the trinity has their particular function, God the Father is the creator (Gen 1, 1- 2, 25), God the Son is the redeemer (Jn 3, 16) and God the Holy Spirit is the sanctifier (2 Thess 2, 13). When we receive any Sacrament the whole trinity is present. The sacrament of Baptism is given by using the Trinitarian formula, as commanded by Jesus (Mt 28, 19). The holy trinity is the model of love and helps each other to carry out their function. The holy trinity invites us all to be connected to our families, to spread love in our family and to be models of love. Read more