Parish

Faith Over Fear: Embracing God’s Plan for Life

This Testimony is offered for the greater glory of God. While pursuing my doctoral studies and with my future wife newly employed as a school teacher, we felt called to the vocation of marriage. At a time when conventional wisdom favoured securing a job and building a house before marrying, we chose to trust Jesus and embrace this calling, with the blessings of our parents.

Our Catholic faith teaches us to welcome children as precious gifts from God. Although my doctoral studies were incomplete and uncertainties weighed on me, my wife’s unwavering faith strengthened me. Within a year of our marriage, the Lord blessed us with a son, a precious gift of His love.

Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated on 1st Oct. to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The celebration began with a special assembly and a prayer service centered on the values of peace, non-violence and justice. Master Elijah Gomes of Class I delivered a speech highlighting the life and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, followed by a speech by Tr. Sanlee Dias, who emphasized the importance of practicing Gandhi’s principles in our daily lives. A skit entitled “Cleanliness Is Everyone’s Responsibility” was presented by the students, conveying the message that maintaining clean surroundings is a collective responsibility. The assembly also featured interesting General Knowledge questions related to Mahatma Gandhi and his life. The programme concluded with the National Anthem. The celebration was both meaningful and informative, inspiring students to uphold the values of peace, cleanliness, responsibility and non-violence in their everyday lives.

Dear Parishioners,

With immense pride and joy, we announce that Kantaram Lharam, the flagship cultural event of St. Sebastian Parish, Aquem, is stepping into its 5th Edition! This Programme can flourish only with the collective support and goodwill of our parish community.
Your Contribution Makes a Difference!
To facilitate your support, the following donor categories have been introduced:
• Platinum Donor: ₹20,000 and above
• Diamond Donor: ₹15,000 and above
• Gold Donor: ₹10,000 and above
• Silver Donor: ₹5,000 and above
Contributions of any amount are most welcome and deeply appreciated. Every donation, regardless of its size, will help us sustain this meaningful initiative and take Kantaram Lharam to greater heights.

Saint Matthew, one of the Apostles who was chosen by Jesus, also known as Levi the tax collector, was an unlikely inspirational figure. He was a tax collector in Capernaum and worked for the government, collecting taxes for the Roman Empire. Many did not like people in this position. He was a controversial and disliked person. One day, as he was at his office, Jesus went to him and called, “Follow Me” (Matthew 9:13), and he just got up and followed Him.

And thus his story of discipleship continued. The same event is recorded in Mark 2:14 and Luke 5:27–28.

He hosted a feast at his house for Jesus, which was not liked by many. They claimed that Jesus was entertaining or having meals with sinners. For this remark, Jesus replied, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Born on April 24^th 1581 in Pouy, France, Saint Vincent de Paul transformed Christian Mercy through a Life of Radical Service to the Poor. His life was defined by striking virtues, profound humility, boundless compassion, practiced wisdom and an unwavering belief in treating the marginalized with absolute dignity. Rather than viewing charity as mere pity, he organized structured, compassionate relief that saw the face of Christ in every suffering soul.

This enduring flame of St. Vincent inspired Blessed Fredric Ozanam, who founded the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Paris in 1833. Challenged to demonstrate his faith through tangible action. Ozanam gathered fellow university students to directly visit and comfort impoverished families in their homes. Celebrated annually on his feast day of September 9^th, Ozanam’s vision proved that youthful passion paired with quiet action can heal societal wounds.

“Celebrating the Archangels involves drawing inspiration from their two-fold fidelity: to contemplate God, and to make Him known.”

Michaelmas,  also known as the Feast of the Archangels on 29th September is a profound spiritual celebration that honors the celestial protectors and messengers, St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael, who are mentioned by name in the Sacred Scripture.

It is an opportunity for the Catholic Church to focus on God – “Creator of Heaven and Earth, of the Visible and the Invisible Universe.”

It reminds believers of the power of divine intercession through these celestial beings and their vital role in the plan of salvation.

It is also an opportunity to meditate on how the Archangels can guide and protect the faithful in their daily lives.

Their names all end with the Hebrew suffix, “-el” meaning “God”:

Have you ever asked yourself these questions?

How am I serving my parish? … How do I witness Christ in my family, workplace, and community?… What gifts has God given me that I can place at the service of others?

Well, if you haven’t, then reflect on it for a moment, as you read about Lay Apostolate Sunday (27^th September),a special occasion on the last Sunday of September observed in Goa to recognize and celebrate the indispensable role of the laity in the life and mission of the Church.

When we think of Goa, we often think of beaches, greenery and, of course, the heavy monsoon rains. Water seems like something we have plenty of. But despite receiving so much rainfall every year, water is a resource that we cannot afford to take for granted.

Water is a part of almost everything we do. We use it for drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning and washing. Goa also depends heavily on water for agriculture, tourism, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. With more people visiting and settling in the state, the demand for water is naturally increasing.