The gift of the Holy Spirit completes the saving mysteries we have been celebrating during this Easter season. Jesus died for our sins, rose from the dead to give us life and ascended into heaven taking with Him our humble flesh and blood. Having brought the life of man into the life of God by Ascension, Jesus now brings God’s life to man by sending us the Spirit. Read more
On 28th June ’19, we will celebrate the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For me this feast brings to mind, pictures of Jesus with a Heart burning with Love, surrounded by thorns, with a cross on the top to remind me of what Jesus suffered for my sake. The quiet, steady gaze of Jesus creates a thought in me “I am a sinner. My sins caused that suffering, that pain”. Read more
When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth, the baby in her womb leaped with joy and both, Elizabeth and her baby were filled with the Holy Spirit. The church commemorates this leap of joy with a feast.
The feast of St. John the Baptist is more popularly known as San Joao (Portuguese). Traditionally men jump into the well or other water bodies. The people then gift fruits and liquors. Read more
The thought of the onset of monsoon, stirs up a nostalgic feeling of experiencing the cool weathers again, accompanied by its picturesque greenery, a perfect antidote to the sultry summer. But as we know, “One man’s food is another man’s poison”. So we do understand, that there would be some, who detest the monsoons, especially because, of the monsoon related illnesses. Read more
After the forty days of the Lenten season, we have just celebrated EASTER, the most important feast day on the Christian calendar. Joyfully, this celebration which marks the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, represents the triumph of good over evil, sin, death and the physical body. May the spirit of Easter continue to live in us NOT just for this season, but the days ahead as well. This is also the time of the year, when the List of transfers of Diocesan priests is announced by the Archdiocese. Fresh postings of Parish Priests, Asst. parish Priests, Chaplains etc. Read more
On the first of May, workers all over the world join hands to strength their unity and to celebrate their solidarity. But the unity and solidarity of workers, as we know, could become political and oppressive if it is not deeply rooted in the brotherhood of man. And it is to give such a solidarity, that the Eucharist invites us to bring the fruits of our work to share with all men. To the Eucharist, all men without distinction and discrimination are called, to sit at the same table, so that men may feel deeply the one origin and the one destiny of all-the one Father who has called us to His kingdom of equality, freedom and brotherhood. And in St. Joseph, the humble carpenter of Nazareth church, a model and example of a worker who could inspire and guide the world of workers. Read more
The day I received my letter signed by Fr. Ligorinho Da Costa, the then Parish Priest, seven years ago, I was happy that I would be able to serve the Parish Pastoral Council once again after a break of three years.
I was chosen to be the Moderator and thus began the journey as a Parish Pastoral Council member. It was joyous, tiring, sometimes dejecting, sometimes fulfilling, but with co-operation, we were able to do the tasks that were entrusted to us. I had two terms of PPC Membership and in both these terms I was the Moderator. Read more
Procreation is co-operation in God’s work of CREATION. It takes place when a man & woman engage in a sexual act. As a result of this act, most married couples look forward to the gift of a new life in their lives. This new life is a GIFT from God, and not a RIGHT of the Couples.
A couple can decide and plan the number of children they would like to have. This is called Family Planning. This would depend on factors like economic constraints and medical conditions. The Church is very much concerned with the methods employed in planning the number of children. Needless to elaborate here, the Church advocates only the natural Family Planning (NFP) method. Read more
The month of April went by with much rejoicing as Easter heralded the Resurrection of Jesus – our Risen Lord. Indeed, Easter is the promise of a new life and fresh beginnings to those who have embraced the Christian faith. Speaking of new beginnings, this May rolls out the appointments and transfers of various priests in the Diocese of Goa. New beginnings are in the offing for our Asst. Parish Priest Fr. Gregorio Cruz. Read more
Many people are not aware that when Rosary was introduced, it was considered to be recited with all the fifteen mysteries and they were often broken down throughout the day. In his famous book “The secret of the Rosary” St. Louis de Montfort encourages the reader to pray the entire rosary (3 rosaries each of 5 decades) every day. Throughout the history of the church, countless saints have prayed the Rosary and they not only found in it a sure guide to holiness but great benefits. Doctors of the church, as well as saints like St. Theresa of Avila, great religious founders like St. Domnic & St. Ignatius de Loyola, Mystics like St. Gemma Galgani, St. Padre Pio, all of these prayed the Rosary everyday and sometimes many times the entire Rosary. Read more
