St. Sebastian Church

Dear Parishioners of St. Sebastian Church – Aquem,

I am really happy and glad to know that your parish magazine “PORMOLL” is completing 21 successful years. With its first issue released in December 1999, it seemed just like yesterday that we had started “PORMOLL” and today it completes so many years of successful publication.

When I had first initiated the issuance of this magazine, the whole intention was to be able to reach out to all the parishioners and communicate effectively. This was especially a beneficial instrument of communication during the fulfillment of many milestones for the parish including building one of Asia’ finest cemetery, amicable settlement of tenants which helped retain church assets, building of the new modern art church and setting up of the first ICSE school in Aquem. Read more

Mogall sompadpea,

Sogllea Aquem-chea firgozkarank maye-mogan noman kortam.

‘PORMOLL’ hea tumchea firgoz-potrak onumchea vorsak 21 vorsam bhortat mhonn amkam chodd khuxalkai bhogta. Ek firgoz-potr suru korunk sompem, punn vella-vellar tem uzvaddak haddop hem ek mott’ttem avahan. Ani tumi umedin ani mogan ho vavr fuddem vhortat dekhun sogllea Sompadpi Mondollak amchim hun-hunit porbim. Read more

All of us are entitled to our own ingenuity and creativity. But how authentic are our potentials if we are not provided with proper ambience and opportunities? Activities like Church bulletins surely help to assimilate the best that the Church can offer us as well as the best that we as parishioners can offer to the Church spreading fragrance like a stunning rose. By all means, ‘PORMOLL’ has been providential and thought provoking instrument in offering the parishioners as well as others ample chances to challenge our own potential and to hone our personal skills, in order to connect to our own self, to our parishioners and to the Church, making us more viable and ardent witnesses of Christ. I am reminded of the very beautiful message from our Holy Father Pope Francis “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” Read more

The sublime purpose of the birth of Jesus was the Redemption of humanity. Our Saviour bore the penalty of the sins of all mankind on the Cross so that those who believe in Him would be reunited with God the Father. Many describe this Redemption as the Divine Exchange which provided mankind with the gift of Salvation.

And so now, redeemed as we are, what is our response to this ultimate gift of heaven? Read more

One of the greatest Catholic legends of the 15^th century is a Spanish missionary called Francis Xavier.

He along with Ignatius of Loyola co – founded the Society of Jesus (SJ), and under his tutelage and leadership was one of the first seven Jesuits to take pledge of Chastity and Poverty in Paris under the leadership of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Francis was the first foreign missionary to visit India on the order of the then Pope and was instrumental for the rise and spread of the Roman Catholic faith in India. Read more

God cares for this world so He chooses people

The bible tells us that He predetermined that role of the prophets before they were conceived. Isaiah 49.5 and Jeremiah 1:5.

In a special way, Mary was chosen for the Salvation of humankind and therefore she received the privilege of being conceived free from the stain of original sin. Pope Pius IX says she received the benefits of salvation in Christ from the very moment of her Conception because God chose her to be the Mother of the Saviour. Read more

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because He has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’……Isaaih 61: 1-3

These words had been written hundreds of years earlier and spoke of a new freedom that was coming in the future. When Jesus stood up to read, He was saying the future had arrived. Liberty would come through Him.

What is the freedom Jesus was talking about ……… It is the Spiritual freedom. Read more

A family that prays together devoutly stays together. This is a very old quote but it is not old fashioned. It is true & relevant even today. We in the family must set certain time for family prayer and this should be priority in our life. God should be first, always. Daily Mass, Morning Prayer, personal prayer, Angelus, Rosary, Word of God, Reflection and so on. Mother Mary prayed and thanked the Lord in all circumstances (Magnificat). Read more

Bhurgim zaun asat avoi-bapaichea mogachi ani ekvottachi khunna. Avoi- bapaichem rogot hea bhurgeant asta. Jednam ek bhurgem hea sonvsaracho uzvadd polleta, tednam avoi-bapaichea kallzant khuxalkayechi zor vhanvta. Jednam hem bhurgem sonvsarak dolle dhampta tednam tich khuxalkayechi zhor dukhanchi ani vilapanchi zhor zata. Oslich zhor Judev avoi-bapain vhanvoili jednam Herod razan aplem rajponn samballunk tanchea supurlea bhurgeanche rogtache vall kele. (Mt 2, 16)

Hea inocent Ballancho Povitr Sobha Dezembrache 28ver, ugdass korta kiteak hea supurlea bhurgeamnim, Jezu pasot aplem rogot varoilem ani aplea rogtantlean tannim Jezuk govai dilo. Him bhurgim zalim Jezu pasot poilim rogt-sakxim. Tanchem rogot Jezun Aplea povitr rogtan duvun kaddlem. Hea bhurgeamchem rogot Jezu pasot varovlem punn Jezun somestam pasot aplem rogot varoilem. Read more

He came as a tiny Babe

that He might better understand our sufferings.

He was born into poverty

lest we think Him a monarch;

He came not to dominate;

but to motivate us;

not to condemn, but to forgive us;

not to oppress, but to free us;

not to compel, but to teach us the truest measure

Of unselfish Love.

E.B. Michaels