We are stepping into the month of November which happens to be the eleventh and penultimate month of the year. This is generally considered as a special month because it acts as a major bridge of seasonal transition, cultural traditions and deep rooted gratitude right before the heavy rush of December. This month is also dedicated to the people who have passed away, giving us an opportunity to remember and pray for their souls. The Catholic Church observes ‘All Souls Day’ on 2nd November, specifically for this cause. Most of us enjoy the fruits of hard labour put in by our elders,who unfortunately are no longer alive. The properties, dwelling houses, wealth and much more, lying in our possession today,are in fact, in most cases than not, passed down from the older generations to the present ones to own and enjoy. Our parents have imbibed in us the practice of offering Masses for the dearly departed, visit the cemeteries, give alms to the needy and also pray the Rosary in the Church and in our homes during this entire month. In doing so we can remember in gratitude those who have gone before us leaving everything for us and pray for the heavenly repose of their souls.Some of these souls may still be languishing in the fires of purgatory and may be longing for our prayers as they are unable to help themselves. may this holy and noble tradition continue.
“Take care of all your memories, for you cannot relive them “…a quote from Bob Dylan..Yes, my dear friends St.Sebastian Church, Aquem has a lot of lovely, lasting memories which highlight feelings of love, family and connection between the parishioners in general. One major memory is our Church Elevation Day taking shape, on 03/11/2002. We are celebrating the 24th Anniversary this year and eagerly await the Silver Jubilee Anniversary in 2027. Many priests served as the Chaplains of the erstwhile St. Sebastian Chapel and started the spadework for elevating the Chapel into a full fledged Church. The overall efforts bore fruit only during the tenure of Chaplain, Fr. James Torres e Silva, our long awaited dream becoming a reality. Alongwith many of our brothers and sisters, I too was fortunate to have been closely associated with the transition and the celebrations as well. All the parishioners, young and the old alike, left no stone unturned to ensure that the day was celebrated and cherished in the most successful manner. On this Anniversary we have an opportunity to reflect on the long religious traditions of our Parish and acknowledge with thanks the contributions of the Clergy and the religious figures associated with it. Many of our parishioners who worked tirelessly for this important day are no longer with us. Also many of the past Chaplains have also passed away. We thank the Almighty for the gift of their lives and pray that their souls may attain eternal salvation. Our best wishes to all the parishioners on this 24th anniversary of our Church Elevation Day…
Until we meet again,stay safe and take care..!!
Felix Dias