After the summer break, schools have reopened for the new academic year. On June 6th, all Schools opened their classrooms for the regular onsite teaching and we could see happy students eager to begin their routine classes. Obviously it was a big relief to the parents and students alike when the government gave a green signal for reopening of schools. No doubt, this is going to be quite a challenge to the Education authorities and the school managements but it’s a task that they had to undertake in view of the fact that there is an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
On the other hand extra precaution would have to be taken to ensure that children, especially the younger ones who have not been vaccinated, are kept safe. There is no confirmation if the present surge in numbers is the fourth wave of the pandemic. However it cannot be totally overlooked as the health professionals had predicted that a fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic could hit Goa in June. The reassuring news is that it is the milder variant that is in circulation in Goa. The prediction that we have to learn to live with COVID, does appear to be coming true. The variants of the virus are still around and keep spreading even as they remain transmissible. The virus has subsided for brief periods before returning back. Although no restrictions are imposed, all precautions need to be in place to ensure that there is no repetition of what we witnessed before in the earlier waves. I wish our young students a brighter, healthier and most importantly a safe school life.
The Church in Goa was overjoyed to get the good news that our Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has been chosen to be elevated as a Cardinal. Pope Francis declared this great news in Rome a couple of weeks back and the ceremony of elevation will take place in Rome on 27th August 2022. We heartily congratulate our Archbishop and seek God’s choicest blessings on him always.
The monsoons have, brought smiles on the faces of our farmers. It is hoped that this year too we will get a good rainfall in order to get good yield from our fields and there is no shortage of water in our dams.
Until we meet again.
Felix Dias
Editor