St. Sebastian Church

Every month of the year has as important event that makes that month special for us. We call it a “Feast” – a celebration of a happy occasion. The month of August always brings to mind the Assumption of our Blessed Virgin Mary on the 15^th, and the Queenship of the B.V.M on the 22^nd.

When pondering on the Queenship of Mary, I find that the reference to Mary in the Gospels is not very much. When she was called to be the Mother of God, she said “Let it be done to me…” in the simplicity of her prayer room – no pomp and grandeur. Her YES was the result of her prayerful upbringing and study of the scriptures, is what comes to me. Read more

It was the night of August 1947. As the drums rolled and conches blew the midnight hour, India moved from foreign rule to independence. In the flush of freedom, our leaders spoke a new tongue, they breathed a new spirit into the dry bones of a buried nation.

Looking at India today, we are tempted to become pessimistic, we are disenchanted and disillusioned by what we see all round us. And so the question -Are we independent? Read more

As a parent, you may have more in common with your dentist than you think. Many moms and dads—even dentists struggle to keep their children’s mouths and teeth clean. Though your child’s first set of teeth are not permanent, they are still critical to the development of healthy gums, jaws, permanent teeth, and dental hygiene habits. From first teething to the development of permanent adult teeth, you can help your child develop and maintain strong healthy teeth and gums with the following tips and tricks. Read more

15^th August is another date very important in the Roman Catholic Calendar. It’s a date wherein we commemorate the Assumption of Mother Mary. What does it signify?

It’s a date when Mother Mary has assumed to Heaven, following the death. This feast is called Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the DORMITION of the Most Holy Mother of GOD.

The dogma of the Catholic Church tells us that Virgin Mother Mary after her earthly life, her body and soul was assumed into heavenly Glory. This was defined by Pope Pius XII. Read more

The 10 MONEY MANTRAS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE

Our Lord has given us the power of wisdom to differentiate between the right and the wrong. However, we often succumb to our impulses and urges, taking wrong decisions in life. The good thing is that the Lord allows us all to make a fresh start when we finally embrace the gift of wisdom. In the previous edition, you read how Kevin and Stacy saw the wisdom in investing before spending their salaries to secure their son, Brendon’s future. The 1^st Money Mantra not only helped the couple accumulate wealth, but they were also able to nurture and care for others! Read more

From the middle ages right upto the meeting of the second Vatican Council in the 1960’s ministry in the church was seen as something that those ordained did on behalf of the community. The responsibilities of the parishioners was simply to pray, pay and obey. In the light of Vatican II a new understanding of the church surfaced as the ‘People of God’. The revised code of Canon law 1983, urged that pastoral council’s be established in every parish. The parish council is presided over by the parish priest together with the elected members. They are engaged in the pastoral care of the parish and help to foster pastoral action. Read more

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. And Jesus taught them a prayer which we all know today as the ‘Lord’s prayer’ – the Our Father (Lk 11: 1-4). The prayer has been handed over to numerous generations, translated into hundreds of languages and said at various prayers and services. But a small phrase within the prayer – do not lead us into temptation – always raised eyebrows, because that seemed to go against the very idea of who God is. How can a God who is ‘All Good’ and ‘All Holy’ lead us, frail human beings, into temptations? Keeping in mind these thoughts a need was felt to study the phrase in question and come out with a better translation of the phrase from the original text. Read more

Foreword:
When I was requested to pen a few lines on the topic “Grand Parents”, with a request that it should not exceed one or one-and-half page, that too by someone who is presently a grandparent himself, I was apprehensive because this was such an extensive theme, and I was sure that it was going to be difficult to adhere to that threshold. However as I narrate it in a nutshell and as a grandparent myself, it is a fact that, because I found this phase in my life the most gratifying, rewarding, and fulfilling and therefore in as much as I enjoyed writing it, I hope you all, will enjoy reading it. Read more