St. Sebastian Church

Being around a medical emergency is never a pleasant experience. Remaining calm and performing a few easily learnable manoeuvres could often be the difference between life and death, literally. Below is a brief overview of what one can do if faced with such an emergency:

 Importance of Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

There are approximately 700,000 cardiac arrests per year and the survival to hospital discharge rate is presently approximately 5-10%. Bystander CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) is a vital intervention before the arrival of emergency services that doubles or triples survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Once the heart ceases to function, a human brain may survive for up to 4 minutes without suffering any permanent damage. Unfortunately, a typical EMS (emergency medical services) response may take up to 10 minutes. It is during these critical minutes that CPR can provide oxygenated blood to the victims’ brain and heart dramatically increasing the likelihood of survival. If instructed properly anyone can provide CPR. Read more

‘Goa’ a tiny emerald on the western coast of India known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, ‘a Tourist Paradise’ is celebrating its 58^th Liberation Day on 19 December 2019. It gives me immense pleasure to recall that old glory story and salute the innumerable martyrs who laid their lives and also others who toiled tirelessly through their life to liberate our mother land from the shackles of Portuguese Colonisation. The Portuguese, colonised India in 1510 conquering Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadar Nagar Haveli and Anjadiva Island. Read more

Christmas is a feast of great joy. Houses are decorated. Coloured paper stars scattering light flutter in front of our houses. The midnight Mass, the crib with the infant Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the animals give a sense of mystery and wonder to this feast. After the Eucharist, all the family members gather at home and exchange gifts. On Christmas day none is so happy as our children. In their new clothes, with the presents scattered around them, the children radiate a spirit of pure joy and satisfaction. But in our poor families, we cannot celebrate Christmas with lights and presents, food and drinks. Nor can we give many presents to our children. Yet, even we, the poor are swept into the joy of Christmas. The new, though cheap clothes and the little extra food are signs of our participation in the joy of this feast. Joy is God’s universal gift. The rich and the poor can share it. Read more

It is mid-November as I write this article, but my mind has fast-tracked to December, not because of the close of this year which has whizzed by, but because of Christmas.

I am a senior citizen so my thoughts are not about what to buy myself or what to do for Christmas, rather they go in slow motion (Senior citizen style) to the yesteryears when preparations began in November itself.

Those were the days of large families; we for example were 7 of us, with my mum, and one earning member, my dad. It’s a wonder how in those days the head of the family provided for the new clothes, shoes, accessories, gifts, decorations, the star, crib, Christmas tree and more especially as the ingredients for the “Kunswar” and meals for family and visitors on that day. Read more

We have been dogged by the rising inflation ever since attaining Independence. The prices of goods and services keep spiralling up, making any increase in income ineffective. Have you noticed how your expenses creep up to equal your income?

What if the same inflation helps you earn more money? Incredulous, are you?

While traditional investments such as Fixed Deposits punish you with inflation, equity markets reward you. Let’s read Neil’s story to unravel our sixth Money Mantra! Read more

Behold, a Virgin shall be with a child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call him –Emmanuel- which means, ‘God with us’. Every 25^th December we celebrate Christmas, the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

Christmas is an occasion to share our love, our happiness and joy with others.

It is the best time that we can renew ourselves. These days however, do we see Christmas in its true sense or is it something else altogether? Read more

Sometimes we are told, “The Church means, ‘the Body of faithful Christians’ (Refer 1 Corn. 11: 18 and verse 22) It is not the Building”. (Not from our Parish Priest or Asst. Parish Priest)

In the above given two statements, don’t you think, the first has validity while the second is invalid? Therefore, objectionable to God?  Read more

60 vorsanche piraier sirvis kortolo monis retire zata. 10vek pavun board exam dilea uprant school-ache dis somptat. Dezembr-achea mhoineant 31ver calendar-achem voros sompta. Kosloi kariakrom somptanam nimannea item-k pavtanam oxem mhonntat, “All good things come to an end.” Ani titlean kariakrom sompta. Punn teach borobor fuddle pautt ani ek bhett zaunchi mhonn anvddetat. Read more

There is an hour, a minute, a second which you will remember forever – when you know instinctively on the basis of the most inconsequential evidence, that something is wrong. Something sad, an event none can bear has taken place. Someone just breathed for the last time. Death comes like a thief. When, where, how…. these are the questions which have no answers. It is one of the most difficult things that all of us will have to deal with in our lives, when a member of our family, a friend, a loved one, leaves us, never to return. Otilia Clovis Da Costa, our dear friend and the Read more

The Catholic Church commemorates 1^st November as “All Saints Day”, A day prior to “All Souls Day”. Why does the Church celebrate this special day? when we have the entire calendar earmarked by the days of Saints?

On this day Catholics honour all those who have entered heaven. Who is a Saint? A Saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness or closeness to God. However the use of the term “Saint” depends on the context and denomination. In Roman Catholic and other denominations the doctrine says all the faithful deceased in heaven are considered to be Saints. Generally all Saints day is a Catholic Holy day of Obligation meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass. Other Countries have different rules according to the Bishops Conferences. Read more