St. Sebastian Church

“Mhoje Sovem Rigun Ravat” — Jn. 15:4

Apurbaiechea mhojea xelliano,

 Otumbracho mhoino, Ruzai Saibinnik bhettoilolo mhoino, teach borobor Missanvachea vaurak bhetoilolo mhoino.

 Ters amkam Marie sangata cholonk ani Jezuchem jivit niahllunk apoita.

Pap Saib Leo Kristanv porjek Ters korunk ani xanti passot magunk ulo korta.

Hea Otumbrachea mhoineant amchi Firgoz magnneachi Somudai, ekvottachi somudai zaunk ani Devachem Missanv jieunk apoita. Tor amchea kuttumbant Tersachem magnnem ami sangata korum-ia. Zo kuttumbh magnnem korta, Tho eka-mekak bhogxita, somzota ani mogan jieta.

We, the Senior Citizens, served in the Government or Corporate Offices for nearly 35 to 40 years. But after sweating it out for about 3 to 4 decades, can we say that we are enjoying our retired lives? Most of us are rich in assets, rich in funds but sadly we are poor in lifestyle, displaying our psychological inability to spend probably as we grew up in an India of scarcity.

We can recollect the good old days when we walked to the bus stop in order to save on the rickshaw fares. Some of us wore shirts, pants and even socks until they tore. We sacrificed our vacations for our children’s sake, to pay for their coaching classes and more often than not, even for their grand weddings too. Today we own our homes and have our retirement benefit funds safely tucked in Banks. We can safely say that we are financially independent. But sadly at times we would prefer to drench ourselves in sweat rather than switch on the AC because we feel we are needlessly wasting electricity .For our entire period of service, our brains were accustomed to “save” for the future and savings wasn’t just a habit, but a necessity for survival.

 1. Opening Prayer: The PPC representatives of SCC 13 and 14 led the members in prayer before the commencement of the meeting.

2. Welcome: The Moderator welcomed all the members on behalf of the Executive Committee.

3. Reading and Approval of the Minutes: The PPC Secretary read out the minutes of the previous month’s meeting. The minutes were approved by the house and duly proposed and seconded by the members.

Faith makes all things possible

My mother was 88 years old and was bedridden for a couple of years, otherwise she was fine. But suddenly one day she fell unconscious. The doctor gave no hope, and said her end is inevitable. But I did not give up, I kept my faith in my Lord. I called for a Somudhai meeting at her place and prayed for her recovery. We took the reading from the gospel Mk 2:1-12 where Jesus heals a paralyzed man, looking at the faith of the four men who lowered the sick man from the roof. Jesus healed the man saying “Get up, pick up your mat and go home.

So too my mother was healed after our fervent prayers, so much so that she came to my house to bless my son on his wedding day. After living for a few more years, she passed away peacefully.                                                   

– Ismenia Fernandes (SCC 3)

LIGHT IN THE NIGHT: FAITH IN CHRIST’S MIGHT

In the month of October 2020, a Birthday Party Gathering turned into a fight for survival, when C0VID 19 struck my wife and me. First admitted to the DistrictHospital in Margao and due to my dangerously plummeting Pulse rate, I was urgently transferred in the State Ambulance to GMC in Panjim. Amidst a deplorable ward, with a toilet with no latches and water tap missing and water flowing and with a gentleman in serious condition on my right and a young lady to my left, and my gaze to the ceiling, I bravely continued my stay in the hospital. I

was robbed of the only cash I carried by those PPE (Personnel with Protective Equipment) who came to change the linen. The food was just impossible to swallow and I would hear at 3.00 A.M. terrifying sounds from the nearby beds which echoed that death was near.

In that darkest hour of despair, I clung to God’s Divine Mercy, praying the Divine Mercy Prayer, surrendering completely to Christ and His Saving Grace. Through absolute Faith, Jesus answered my plea, silenced death and miraculously carried me in His arms back to Life.

-Terence D’souza (SCC 6)

Dear Readers,

Hope you have read the word of God through the First and Second Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians and applied the summary we published in the last two issues. We continue this series and the Letter we focus for this month is the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians.

The Letter to the Philippians is one of St. Paul’s most warm and personal letters. Paul writes to the Christians of Philippi while he is imprisoned. Despite his difficult circumstances, the dominant message of the letter is joy, faith, gratitude and confidence in Christ.

Feast Day : 01st October

 ” O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of Love.” — opening prayer of the novena to St. Therese of Lisieux.

In devotion to St. Therese, many Roman Catholics pray a special novena to her, believing that she will send them a mystical rose from heaven.

Therese Martin, was the last of nine children born to Louis and Zelie Martin on January 2, 1873, in Alencon, France. Only five of these children lived to reach adulthood. After losing her mother at the age of four, she was well looked after by her father and sisters.

Therese had a conversion that transformed her life, on Christmas Eve in 1886, at the age of 14. Her powerful energy and sensitive spirit was turned towards love. She entered the convent at the age of 15, in Lisieux, to give her whole life to God. She took the religious name, Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.

Do you Believe in Guardian Angels? Have you Experienced the presence of a Guardian Angel anytime anywhere?  Think and ponder

Jesus says that each of us has our own personal guardian angel. He states: See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. (Matthew 18:10)

From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.” Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God. (CCC 336)

“What a Wonderful World” — the familiar song, beautifully sung by Louis Armstrong, invites us to pause and look around. The green of the trees, the colours of flowers, birds in the sky, the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the sea all remind us of the wonderful world God has entrusted to us.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” – Psalm 24:1

The Season of Creation, celebrated from 1 September to 4 October, is a special time to give thanks for the gift of creation and renew our commitment to care for our common home. This year, the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman celebrates the Season of Creation under the theme “Living Waters: From the Sanctuary to the World,” inspired by the words of the prophet Ezekiel 47: 9 – “Everything will live where the river flows.”

The Season concludes on 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, who loved and respected all of God’s creatures and saw creation as a reflection of the Creator’s goodness.

Day of Mass Media Apostolate (11/10/2026)

Two crows, perched on a wire fence, were eyeing a cornfield.
“I’m sure we could find a nice meal today,” the first crow said.
“Hold on!” said the second. “There is a man right in the middle of the field!”
“It’s only a scarecrow,” said the first. “He isn’t a real person.”
The first crow turned to look at him and asked, “What makes you so certain?”
The second croaked, “If he were a man, he would be looking at us with a mobile phone in his hand!”