St. Sebastian Church

Angel of God, my Guardian Dear
to Whom God’s love commits me here.
Ever this day be at my side
to light and to guard
to rule and guide. Amen.

Guardian Angels are perhaps the most popular kind, probably because we all know how fragile life can be – how little control we seem to have over the events that shape our lives. We desperately need protection from unexpected circumstances and unseen dangers. Just the thought of good angels hovering around us gives people a feeling of safety! Read more

The month of October is dedicated to our Lady of the Rosary. The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary was instituted to honour  and to thank Our Lady for the protection of the Church  experienced through her in the victories of the Christian armies against the Turks at  Lepanto on 7^th October  1571 and then  at Peterwarde  in Hungary in 1716. The faith that the Church expresses through the Feast is that Mary is the Protectress of the Church. The recitation of the Rosary is a means of experiencing her loving care. At the same time this Feast reminds us of Mary’s life and mission in the history of salvation. Read more

Catechism students celebrate Mother’s Day every year. Some years ago, on one occasion, a Catechist of Grace Church Margao, asked the students of his Confirmation Class, to write a letter to their Mothers. He said. “You can write whatever comes to your mind. Your thoughts and your feelings”. He then walked around the class, observing them. He noticed, some girls seated together looking pensive and had not yet started writing. So he asked them,   “Why did you not begin to write?”. About 3 or 4 of them together replied saying, “They are partial to their sons”. The Teacher aged 55 years, was taken aback as he did not expect such a statement from them. He was not aware that such discrimination prevailed. He thought for a while and addressed the emotional distress they go through for no fault of theirs.  Read more

Inner freedom is to de-clutch the mind and abide in the stillness. God desires inner freedom for us to grow in self-knowledge and to live out of that, which means, to let go of what does not help us and to love God and love others.

Inner freedom is more about learning to develop a healthy and harmonious relationship with the variety of emotional states one is likely to occupy over the course of one’s lifetime and to respond open-heartedly to God’s invitation to be joyful and to live each moment to the fullest. Read more

In the Holy Bible, in Genesis 1 of the Old Testament, we are told of God creating the World; soon he added life, water, plants and humans to his creation, thereby making the environment comprehensive for us humans to grow and prosper.

This was the initial vision of God the Father when He planned to create the Universe and placed us human beings into it. Read more

As the month of October nears, our thoughts go to the 13^th of October, Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. For most feasts we give much time to go to her nine days prior with our needs and lack. However, from this feast onwards, we have the privilege of our Blessed Mother visiting our homes, staying with us for 24 hours and bringing into our hearts the desire to keep her company with the recitation of the Rosary, which she has been calling for repeatedly. Read more

Apovnnem tin (3) bhaxen asunk zata, Kazari jivitak, ankvari jivitak ani dhormik jivitak. 99 % lok fattim-fuddem polloinastanam kazar zata. Thoim legun kazari jivitak apovnnem asunk zai. Ek boro avoi/bapui vo boro ghov/bail zaunk ek dennem Devachem. Dusre bhaxechem apovnnem mhollear atam-atam zaitim zannam sodun ghetat tem mhollear ankvari jivit sarchem. Haka novoch nett mell’la, karann zaitim zannam, odik korun cheddvam sirvis kortat ani tim konnacher poddun nant. Tisre baxechem apovnnem mhollear adinch thaun asa ani tem mhollear dhormik apovnnem. Hanga gozal kortat ti fokot dhormik jivitachea apovnneachi. Haka chodd korun ami apurbaien “Dev apovnnim” mhonntanv. Konnui eklo cheddo, padri vo cheddum, madr zaunk ieujita. Tankam aplem apovnnem sodun kaddunk favo to adhar diunk zaiteo suvato asat. Read more

Several times, we have found trust in Divine Providence to be a source of comfort to all of us in times of exigencies. It is God’s mercy that has saved us of the disastrous consequences of the recent cyclones, floods and landslides which left trails of destruction in many of our neighbouring states. Several places of our own, especially in the north and the coastal areas of Goa, have also been badly affected after the recent rain fury.

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On 21st September, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Matthew, apostle and evangelist. His life is an example and a beautiful reminder of the words of Oscar Wilde: “Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” Meeting Jesus was the best thing that happened in his life. After his first encounter with Jesus, Matthew was not the same man anymore. He undergoes a total transformation in his life: from being despised to being loved; from being corrupt to being just; from being a traitor to being a faithful follower; from selfishness to selflessness; from being a sinner to being a saint. Read more

We celebrate the birthdays of great leaders, sometimes even after their death. On such occasions we remember their origin, their person, and with reverence express our gratitude for the work they have done for the country and for mankind. The thought that such zealous and great men existed or exist, evokes in us, a sense of pride and hope. Similarly, we rejoice on the birthdays of our family members, relatives and friends. By offering them birthday gifts and greetings we wish them well and express our gratitude for the love and fellowship which we have experienced through them. Read more