1.The Parish Priest, in his message, advised the faithful to cultivate the practice of making genuflection or body bow to the Blessed Sacrament in the Church where we believe in the real presence of the Lord. In addition he explained that it becomes our sacred duty to worship the Lord. He then emphasized that it’s not sufficient to merely bow before the Blessed Sacrament but we should make a profound body bow and the gesture should be observed even when we walk
across or pass in front of it.
He further explained three gestures of worship and reverence: that before the Bl. Sacrament genuflexion or body bow, in front of the crucifix a shoulder bow should be made and in front of the statue of saints a head bow would be
appropriate.
In addition, the Parish Priest shared the intention of Pope Leo XIV for this month that the church and its community need to hear the cry of the earth which is being suffocated by pollution and exploitation and the cry of the poor. He reminded that it is our responsibility to educate our younger generation to care for the earth and not to turn it into a concrete jungle and also to preserve our beautiful Goa.
He advised to nurture nature recognising it as God’s precious gift to humanity and live in harmony with it. To illustrate it, he gave an example of his own kitchen gardens, though it is in a very small space it is utilised and flourishes with vegetables. He also shared that the cheerful chirping of birds early in the morning around his residence which brightens his day.
2.The moderator informed about the upcoming visits of Mother Mary’s statues to the homes which will commence on 13th October 2025 with the Eucharistic
Celebration at 5:30 pm After the Mass the statues will be released and distributed to the concerned families. She requested the members to accompany the families of their respective Somudai escorting the statue from the Church to their homes.
3.The Parish Priest speaking about the rite of funeral prescribed by the Church ritual explained that the funeral ceremony is deeply religious and sentimental and it should be observed in three stations according to the ritual of the Church.
1) the first in the House of the departed.
2) in the Church where we can have the Mass also and
3) in the Cemetery.
For very good reasons the St. Sebastian Parish of Aquem-Alto started to have
the 2nd station also in the Cemetery. Do we have the same reasons prevailing
today? Why should we not bring our dear departed for the last time to the House of God where he/she worshipped Him all the life? He also mentioned that Month’s mind and death anniversaries may be celebrated in the Cemetery.
The members agreed to follow with the practice of three stations but the Parish Priest advised to seek the opinion of the ward members at large.
4) Suggestion from members that the readers for the Mass should proceed together to the lectern so that the second reader may reach to the lectern without
delay and the flow of the liturgy is maintained.