St. Sebastian Church

A virtue is an attitude or a way of life to control our action and guide our conduct so that we can do the good things that God wants us to do. When we live a virtuous life, we receive inner joy, strength and peace.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to Your word.” We traditionally speak of this as her great “fiat” (yes) to God!

One thing we see within these words is that our Blessed Mother is offering her complete consent to something that she does not understand. Mary listened, pondered and then immediately consented to the words spoken. “Let it be done to me according to Your word”. Our Blessed Mother’s faith was one that knew the truth without having to be fully understood. This is a gift. Read more

By Dr. Noel Menezes
M.D
Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry
Goa Medical College

Uric acid is a normal body waste product produced by the breakdown of purines. Purines are nitrogen-containing compounds found in the cells of the body, including our DNA. They are also found in many foods such as liver, shellfish, and alcoholic drinks, primarily beer.

When purines are broken down to Uric acid in the blood, the body gets rid of it when you urinate. But if your body makes too much Uric acid, or if your kidneys aren’t working well, Uric acid can build up in the blood. Uric acid levels can also increase when you eat too many high-purine foods or take medicines like diuretics, aspirin, and niacin. Then crystals of Uric acid can form and collect in the joints. This causes painful inflammation leading to a condition called “Gout” which is characterized by inflammation of the joints due to the formation of Uric acid crystals (tophi) in the joints (synovial fluid). Read more

St. Joseph, Model for Fathers:

St. Joseph is a man for our times. If ever there was a need for a good role model for our sons, St. Joseph fills this spot. His example of courage, obedience and wisdom shows his most admirable attributes. Joseph models a strong manhood to the men of our day. A man agrees to cling to his wife, for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness or health. Go to Joseph, praying for every Christian man to follow the example of Saint Joseph.

St. Joseph, Pillar of Families: To fulfill our family responsibilities, we must turn to God for guidance and for all the graces we need. A “pillar” is reliable, strong and capable of providing essential support. St. Joseph teaches us that even though we may not be perfect, God gives us the graces to fulfill our vocations. Go to Joseph, praying for ourselves and our families. Read more

Mogall Firgozkaramno,

Ami he pautt soglleam von thondd ani ogeponnan natalam sarlim. Jezu zolmol’lo te pautt legun hache von odik ogeponnan sogllo lok aslo astolo. Punn ogeponnan sogllim boreponnan suru zalim.

Fattlea vorsa nhu aslem tem ghoddun ailam. Naka aslem tem lokan onnbhovlam. Kednanch chintunk naslem tem pollounk meulem. Soglli bhirant ani akant ieun ghelea.  Atam 2021 novem voros suru zalam. Soglle torechem zhuz fattim ghelam. Oxem mhonnlolem asa, “As long as I breathe, I hope.” Foujent zhuztolo dor ek zhuzari aplea nimannea vellar legun oxem mhonnta ani zhuzot ravta. Bhorvanso soddinam. Read more

The old year has gone with the wind and the New Year 2021 has taken possession of the clock of time. A new year is God’s gift to us, so let us all enjoy the faithful blessings He so delights in giving. May God be with you through the New Year and fill your life with comfort, love and cheer. Read more

On 1^st January, the Church keeps the solemnity of the Dogma of Mary- the Mother of God and also begins the New Year with the blessings of Mother Mary, who gave birth to the Son of God, which we celebrated on 25^th December.

This dogma of Mary- Mother of God, was proclaimed by the Council of Ephesus in 431. Mary is called “Mother of God” which translates the more accurately stated Greek term “Theotokos” or “Birth giver of God or God Bearer.” In order to understand how Mary becomes the Mother of God, we need to know that in Christ there are two natures, one divine and one human, but only one person. His eternal divine nature was united perfectly to the human flesh offered from Mary’s own human flesh. The heresy Nestorianism teaches that Mary was the mother only of the ‘human Jesus’ and not the ‘divine Jesus.’  On the contrary, the Catholic Church teaches that Christ is one person with two natures: divine nature and human nature. Hence Mary is the mother of the Divine Person who is the Son of God. Logically, she is the Mother of He who is God the Son. She is the Mother of God, though not the Mother of the divine essence of the Trinity. Read more

Epiphany, in the Western church, is celebrated on January 6, completing the 12 days of Christmas. Traditionally Epiphany marks the visit of the Magi recorded in Matthew 2:1–12. (In the Eastern church, Epiphany is also an observance of the Baptism of Jesus and the revelation of the Trinity.) The wise men—Gentiles from another culture—recognized Jesus’ kingship and bowed before Him in worship. Well before Paul’s teachings in the Epistles or Peter’s vision (Acts 10), this event conveys a truth of great theological significance

It is clear enough to see that the story traces the quest of these Magi to find the one who was born king of the Jews. They arrive in the palace, they receive directions, they are met by king Herod, they visit Bethlehem, and pay homage to the child. Read more

Republic Day has been celebrated every year in India on January 26, since 1950 to honour the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. India will be celebrating its 72^nd Republic Day this year.

Republic Day has been celebrated every year in India on January 26, since 1950 to honour the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect. India was a colony of the British for over 200 years and became independent from the rule of the British Raj following the Indian independence movement. While India became independent on August 14, 1947, it still didn’t have a permanent constitution, and Indian laws were based on a modified version of the British established, Government of India Act 1935. Read more

Every year we celebrate the feast of St. John Bosco on 31^st January. This year being a Sunday, the Church will celebrate the feast the next day i.e. Monday 1^st February 2021.

This is a feast that is celebrated in a big way at the Shrine of Don Bosco in Matunga, Mumbai. Devotees have flocked here with deep faith in this wonderful Saint. Their answered prayers and miracles are being recorded in the “Madonna” which still comes to our homes, free of charge. As children we were great fans of the then comics, but our spiritual food was always the “Madonna”. We didn’t have a Bible in our home in the ‘50s and ‘60s, so the Madonna in its simplicity and charity gave us food for thought. With time, though the simplicity continued the contents had more depth especially for the adults. Read more

Everyone has various reasons and different ways like walking, kneeling or fasting to endure a sacrifice towards God or a favourite Saint you believe in. Some do it for retrospect, some do it for good health for self or for others.

I had  my own personal reason for this sacrifice, which we call ‘Angonn’ in konkani and decided to walk from Margao to Old Goa on 2^nd December 2020. Read more