CONTENTS
December, 2019 | Vol. 54 Editor Fr. Dr. Elvis Fernandes, SFX Editorial Team Fr. Dr. Ivon Almeida, SFX; Fr. Mark Furtado, SFX; Dr. Nelly De Sa; Dr. Rafael Fernandes Printer and Publisher Fr. Noel Menezes, SFX Cover Concept E. Sanguemkar Illustrations Dr. Smitha Bhandare Kamat
5 8 10
COVER FEATURE
God Wants Us to Love Migrants
- Fr. Donato Rodrigues
Living With Getting Overwhelmed - Cleofato Almeida Coutinho
Migrant women: Empowered or more vulnerable? - Sr. Patricia Santos, RJM
Art & Design Clifford Fernandes Proof Reader Grisel Zuzarte, Nirmala Fernandes, Blossom Araujo Editorial Office The Editor Fr. Agnel’s Call Pilar - Goa - 403 203. Email: editorfragnelscall@gmail.com Ph.: (0832) 2219091
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SPIRITUALITY
13
Lectio Divina
14
Christmas... A reason to rejoice
16
Make your life count for today and eternity
18
Walking With Youth
20 24 26 28 32
- Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX - Dr. Nelly De Sa
YOUTH
- Ibonio D’Souza - Fr. Joe Fernandes, SFX
MISSION MUSINGS
Serving the Goan Immigrants...
- Fr. Lucas Rodrigues, SFX
Being kind to migrants
OH! GOA
- Sr. Techla Pereira, PBVM
Aren’t we All Pilgrims ?
INSIDE INDIA
Fr. Henry D’Souza, SFX
GLOBAL GLAZE
Goans: Migrants to the land of the Brits
- Vania Cota
PADRE AGNEL
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 3 Fr. Agnelo - Created to love...
- Br. Eusebio Miranda, SFX
Editorial
Migrant Messiah
I
n 2014 the BJP Government, in the first year of its rule in India, declared 25 December as Good Governance Day and made it a working day for government employees. Why didn’t the government declare it as a National Migrant day? This would have been in sync with the birth of Jesus whose parents Mary and Joseph had to flee with him from their country to Egypt to escape a massacre. They became migrant refugees. Their son Jesus became the Migrant Messiah.
Last year in a Christmas message via Twitter, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, American Politician and Activist, told her followers to remember that ‘Christ’s family were refugees too’. She drew parallels between the plight of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph and the immigrants from Central America. She said that those fleeing their own countries to settle in the United States are in a similar situation as that of Jesus and are to be treated with Justice and Compassion. They need to be given access to benefits, regardless of citizenship status. In India, between 1948 and 1971, there were large scale migrations from Bangladesh to Assam. This influx of illegal migrants from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) was on account of political turmoil and civil unrest. Even after the end of civil war and formation of Bangladesh, migration continued, though illegally. To identify illegal immigrants, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was prepared for the first time in Assam in 1951. The Final NRC in Assam published on 31 August 2019 has created a cause of concern because it has excluded 1.9 million people, mostly poor, from its draft list.
The wars in Syria and Afghanistan, and the economic deprivation in Africa has rendered millions of people migrants. The Rohingya minority in Myanmar 4 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
has been oppressed and dispersed. Many of them seek a better future in the developed countries of Europe. Such massive immigration has led to a bitter backlash as nations seek to put up fences and walls to curb migration. Migrants are to be shown empathy, acceptance and solidarity. Their value and human potential are to be recognised.
The United Nations proclaimed 18 December as International Migrants day for the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. The Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants on 29 September since 1914 to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers and to express concern for the vulnerable people on the move. Pope Francis, whose papacy has been marked by solicitude for the poor and respect for the sanctity of life, has consistently denounced in his homilies and writings , the mistreatment of migrants. He has decried the perilous, degrading and intolerable conditions of the migrants and urged countries to honour their humanity. The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph), whom we remember in December, fits the contemporary situation of refugees and migrants. Migrants are to be treated with Justice and compassion because Jesus asks us to. In Matthew 25, Jesus reminds us to “Welcome the Stranger” because in doing so, we welcome Jesus himself. We should have compassion and be ready to care for modern-day refugees and migrants who are our brothers and sisters and are urgently in need of our help. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”
Elvis, SFX
Cover Feature
God Wants Us to Love Migrants
A
ll of us are migrants: One day, on my way to attend lectures at the Alphonsian Academy in Rome, I boarded a bus that was already crowded. At the next stop, when an elderly couple boarded the bus, the man, looking at me, angrily shouted in Italian, “These migrants are making our life difficult everywhere”. I felt humiliated and sad: for being accused of making the native Italians’ life difficult; for being called a migrant. Prior to this incident, I associated migrants to the very poor people from other States of India living in Goa who were doing dirty, difficult, and dangerous jobs and living in unhygienic and inhuman conditions in the slums or on the streets.
Yes, I was a migrant student in Rome and I’ve heard Indian students studying abroad narrate
Fr. Dr. Donato Rodrigues their experiences of humiliation, especially while commuting in public buses, where their presence often attracted looks of suspicion and a whisper “beware of pickpockets”. The natives often subject migrants to different types of humiliating experiences and hardships because they are different from them in the colour of their skin, their language or accent, their attire, their culture, etc. In this regard, we have to be aware of a reality that most of us conveniently forget: All of us are migrants. There is not only the blood of migrants running in our bodies since our ancestors were migrants but we ourselves or our family members and relatives may have lived in or may still be living in other countries, regions, states, because of studies, work, or other reasons. Discrimination in the use of the term ‘migrants’:
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 5
People move out from their home land, start living as migrants in the new place, but natives call them migrants even after living there for decades. The word ‘migrants’ is often used by natives in a pejorative and discriminatory sense to refer to migrants who are of a darker complexion, poor, shabbily attired, that is, those who migrate for their basic survival. The latter are treated in a discriminatory and degrading manner, as second class citizens or as human beings of less value. One observes that in India and in some other countries the natives do not use the term ‘migrants’ to the rich migrants such as the foreigners, businessmen and professionals. They treat them with respect and dignity on par with the natives. All migrants need to be treated with respect and dignity.
Church’s Concern for the Migrants: Migratory experiences of significant biblical personalities such as Abraham, Moses and others as well of groups and later of the members of Holy Family show us that migration is intrinsic to Christian heritage. Jesus
came to give human beings life in abundance and the Church has a duty to do the same. Church’s ministry to migrants is a living sign of Christ who came to give life in abundance to all, says John Paul II. He says that it is her duty, like the Good Samaritan, to be close to the migrant, “who is the contemporary icon of the despoiled traveller, beaten and abandoned on the side of the road to Jericho (Lk 10:30).” He says that the Church goes towards the migrant pouring “on his wounds the oil of consolation and the wine of hope.” Consolation and hope is what is very much necessary to migrants as they feel lost wherever they try to pitch their tent to survive. Although Church’s care towards migrants takes different forms, Pope Francis wants her to adopt a course of action that involves: (a) Welcome (b) Protect (c) Promote, and (d) Integrate. In other words he wants the Church to focus on the integral development of all migrants. 6 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
Pope Francis exhorts the Christians to accompany the migrants from the time of extending a welcome to them till the time they flourish in their human development. To help them flourish the natives have to make them feel welcomed, protect them from all dangers, promote their holistic development and integrate them totally in the life and activities of the community. St. John Paul II, appealing to Christians to show solidarity to migrants, said, “Solidarity means taking responsibility for those in trouble. For Christians, the migrant is not merely an individual to be respected in accordance with the norms established by law, but a person whose presence challenges them and whose needs become an obligation for their responsibility. ‘What have you done to your brother?’ (cf. Gen 4:9).” He avers that the answer to this question should not be limited to what is imposed by law, but it should be made in the manner of solidarity. The plight of migrants deserves our sensitivity and humanness: We have to be sensitive to the feelings of the migrants because they too are human beings. They are members of our human race who move in search of food and shelter, of an environment that might ensure safety and security, of better opportunities, of a better future for their children, or in search of their dreams. God’s option for the poor should make us reach out to those who have been reduced to the status of migrants by environmental disasters, poverty and misery, oppressors, illiteracy and stagnation, the fears of dangers and of starving to death in one’s homeland.
Even migration, which is seen as a means of hope, frequently ends in painful suffering and death. Many lives are lost on the seas and in-transit across countries due to human trafficking and smuggling of migrants. The 39 Vietnamese found dead on 23 October 2019 in a refrigerated trailer while being smuggled into the UK is the latest example of death while smuggling. Pham Tra My, a 26 year old Vietnamese girl found dead, sent to her parents this last message, “I’m sorry mum, my path to abroad doesn’t succeed. I love you and Dad so much. I’m dying because I can’t breathe”. Every year huge numbers of people die in their attempt to find better future across borders. In 2015, in Austria about 71 people were found suffocated on a highway in an airless truck. People are smuggled by criminal gangs having links across countries and earn billions of dollars by smuggling or trafficking people across borders. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime smugglers earned 7 billion dollars in 2016. Migrant Data Portal while stating that since 1996
about 75,000 migrant deaths have occurred says that this is the minimum estimate as majority of migrant deaths go unreported, just as the deaths of internal migrants. A vast majority of the socially and economically disadvantaged migrants live in misery, pain and hardships that go unreported because people have become indifferent towards them. This attitude of indifference in the host society may cause people there to think that what migrants face is far better than what they would find in their homeland. So their sufferings are taken for granted, without regard for their basic human dignity. Can we remain indifferent to such deaths and struggles of our migrant brothers and sisters? They deserve our attention, care and concern. Migrants as one of the means to foster spiritual growth: Migrants contribute in several ways to the development of the host society. For Christians, migrants become one of the means to grow spiritually as Pope Francis explains: Christians get the opportunity to practice charity of the highest form towards migrants who are poor; when they see migrants as their brethren who are in difficulty and in need of compassion, they honour God their creator; those who remembering the words of Jesus, “whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do it to me”, put themselves at the service of migrants who with their burdens and sufferings are the last and the least in our societies; when they put away the fears of migrants that on one hand deprive them
of encountering the other and encountering the Lord in the other and on the other hand makes them intolerant, closed and even racist; when they put every person, every migrant, and all people at the center of all holistic development.
In Conclusion: Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi says that the peculiarities of today’s migrants are an appeal for us to live again the fraternity of Pentecost, when differences are harmonized by the Spirit and charity becomes authentic in accepting one another (Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi, no.18). If we see the migrant “in the full truth of his existence” as a child of God created in His image and likeness, who are redeemed by Christ, then our attitude towards them will be of welcoming them, protecting them, promoting their holistic development and integrating them in the life of the community. Bible tells us that God loves migrants and promotes their wellbeing. God’s special love for migrants demands that they be loved and protected, not ill-treated nor neglected. As Jesus identifies himself with migrants/ strangers Christians cannot but treat them as if they are treating Christ (Mt. 25:45) and love them as God himself loves them (Lev 19). The writer is a Diocesan Priest of the Archdiocese of Goa. He has a doctorate in Moral Theology. He a a professor and formator at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol.
Pilar-Rachol joint Symposium 2019
Around 200 stundents of theology participated in the Symposium held at Pilar Theological College on 9th November 2019. The event was a joint venture of the All India Mission Seminary and the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. The theme of the symposium was: “Renewed Commitment to Missionary Calling in Indian Context.” The theme was inspired by the Holy Father’s call for the renewal of Church’s missionary charism. His Grace Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman presided over the symposium and in his address, he urged the students to take personal responsibility to carry forward the mission of God. An esteemed panel of speakers graced the event with their papers on the missionary calling of the Church. The keynote address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Felix Wilfred, a renowned Indian Theologian, who is the Founder-Director of the Asian Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies (ACCS), who has authored several books. Rev. Dr. Lyndon Rodrigues was the moderator for the day. Distinguished Speakers like Rev. Dr. A. Alangaram, SJ and Rev. Dr. Prem Antony, IMS presented their perspectives on mission. Special invitees like, Mr. Avinash Bhaip, Mr. Asif Hussain and Mr. Joaquim Barreto, shared their perspective on the mission of the Church. The Students also asked valuable questions and enriched the discussion.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 7
Cover Feature
Living With Getting Overwhelmed
Cleofato Almeida Coutinho
E
conomic development brings urbanization and with it comes migration. Goa cannot be an island in this world phenomenon. There is a gradual influx of migrants to this city state by those who find this state to be a land of opportunities. It is our lack of capacity to assimilate them by providing basic amenities and in particular housing that has led to the identity crisis amidst the large scale emigration by the locals to European countries. While the locals wish to migrate out of Goa finding this place not a land of opportunities, there may not be social unrest over those who find this a land of opportunities. However, there is tension over the dilution of the identity and the Goan way of life. The mushrooming of slum areas at Mapusa, Margao, Vasco and Chimbel and all the shanties in the outskirts of cities is an eye sore to the Goan landscape. The problem has increased as the migrants choose the destination linked to employment and opportunities. Migration has always been a major growth factor for slums in urban areas. 8 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
The influx of so called outsiders (migrants) who are contemptuously referred to as ‘ghanttis’ are mostly the labour force from other parts of the country. These outsiders constitute the labour force: the poorly paid industrial workers, fruit sellers, vegetable vendors and other menial occupations. These are people who are otherwise poor and are in Goa to make their ends meet. They earn more than what they could earn in their own state. There states are unable to take care of them.
The Konkan Railway has contributed its bit to the influx. The migrant workers are ready to work at lower salaries and that has marginalized the locals in the Goan employment market. The low risktaking capacity and our susegado life style have also contributed to the problem.
But who says Goans do not want to work? From the 19th century Goans have been migrating to British Africa and other parts of India like Bombay, Karachi and Calcutta. A large number of Catholic Goans
worked at sea as stewards and cooks. Now a large number of them are employed on the luxury tourism related cruise liners. Goans have worked in skilled and unskilled jobs in other parts of the country and the world. The women folk have worked as domestic staff. A section worked as nurses and the educated as secretaries. Over the past 50 years, thousands of Goans have been working in Gulf countries. When they work outside Goa, the demand of work is tough as against the laid back life style in Goa.
There is an impression that Goans avoid manual work but if we look at the work culture of Goans outside Goa, that insinuation is not correct. The catholic Gawda community is known to be extremely good at laying concrete slabs and road construction. It must be admitted that the dignity of labour is a serious issue in a caste ridden society where occupations are also caste based and taking up certain occupations is seen as perpetrating the caste system. The next generation wants to avoid the caste based occupations. The reality is that Goans both educated and unskilled do not wish to work here while the outsiders occupy the vaccuum. That is the real paradox of immigration and emigration. It must be understood that migrants are only serving this state and economy. It may not be possible to provide salaries commensurating with the Gulf countries here in Goa given our economic set up to attract locals in the Goan job market. In such a scenario can the state do without the migrants (poor from the other states)? However much we look down upon them, our economy is kept in motion by the migrant labour force and society served by them.
There can be no debate that migration has been diluting the ethnic character of any region. In the sixties, the Shiv Sena was founded in Bombay to protect Bombay for the Marathi ‘manus’. The cosmopolitan nature of Bombay has only increased. The information technology industry has reduced
Kannadigas to around 35% of Bangalore’s seven million population. The Turks took over Germany as the Germans shirked manual work in their own country. Whichever way you look at it, migration opportunities have been taken by people in search of socio-economic improvement of their lives and particularly, in light of new economic reforms, the regional ideology seems to have run out of shelf life. Under the new economic reforms, the country and the state seeks foreign and domestic investment for the growth of industries and business. Flow of capital from other parts of the world and the country and investment by locals is now the driving force of the economy. In this perspective is it possible that we invite the capital and drive out the people who find that investment has created certain opportunities? The fear of getting overwhelmed has to be seen in the new world order where migration and urbanization are the direct result of the economic development unleashed by the new economic reforms. The writer is a Legal Expert and Political Analyst, Assolna Goa
Pilar Art Fest 2019
On the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Venerable Agnelo, Bishop Allwyn Barretto, Bishop of Sindhudurg, inaugurated the Pilar Art Fest on the 17 of November in the quadrangle of the Pilar Monastery. A few seasoned artists with a group of youngsters have expressed the relevance of Venerable Agnelo through various medium. The Pilar Art Fest began in 2002. It attempts to bring together artists from various ages and backgrounds to reflect on the Good News and its relevance today. The exhibition will remain open for visitors till the end of November 2019.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 9
Cover Feature
Migrant women: Empowered or more vulnerable?
M
Sr. Patricia Santos RJM
igration is a not a new concept or occurrence. From the beginning of human history nomads and other tribal groups have moved from place to place in search of greener pastures, food and improved living conditions. Migration also has biblical roots with Abraham called to leave his homeland and move to a new land, and Hagar forced to flee from her mistress, Sarah. The Blessed Virgin Mary can also be considered to some extent metaphorically, if not historically, a migrant woman, since she was always on the move, either fleeing from danger, or following her Son as a disciple. Not only humans, even birds and animals migrate because of climate changes and other conditions. While migration has been a common phenomenon down through the ages, the current global consequences of human migration on residents and aliens, on the environment and the culture, is quite alarming and complex.
Globalization of international migration entails a wide diversity of ethnic and cultural groups, with a significant increase in the number of women as primary migrants. One can observe a growing feminization of migration in India and globally with many women migrating either alone or with their families in search of better prospects and sustainable livelihoods. There are two types of migration - coping and accumulative. Coping migration undertaken mainly by the poor takes care of their basic existence and survival whereas accumulative migration carried out by more privileged families allows the possibility to save and invest one’s assets. Female migration is multifaceted with some women migrating to other countries for studies, work and a better life; while others, especially low-income women, moving from rural to urban areas for employment, visibility and improved conditions. Although there are greater work opportunities for poor women as domestic labourers and contract workers in the cities, they are most susceptible to being exploited economically, 10 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
politically, socially, culturally and sexually. They are treated almost like slaves denied of their selfworth, despised, distrusted and rejected from the mainstream of society. This is because migrants are often seen as a menace despite the invaluable services they offer through undertaking jobs that are considered dirty, dangerous, and degrading. They are treated as illegal residents and harassed by the police.
Economic migration and productivity of women’s labour has positive and negative consequences for women and girls. While the ability to get jobs in the cities increases their self-confidence, they are often deprived of a fair wage and so have to engage in multiple jobs; some even getting involved in casual prostitution to make ends meet. Despite being the primary breadwinners, managing the house and looking after their children, they are abused and treated inhumanly by their husbands and others in society. They are even deprived of basic amenities and social protection. Much of the cross-border outsourcing activity is carried out in India where marginalized women provide cheap labour. Since they are paid per piece, they are easily exploited as this work is unprotected by labour laws and social welfare programs. Marketing companies
also objectify women by using female bodies in commercials. The commercialized migration of women and girls often results in trafficking of women for labour and sexual exploitation. Migrant women who live in close proximity to each other develop cordial relations and good bonding, helping each other with baby-sitting and other chores. At times sharing of limited space also brings tension, conflict and cutthroat competition arising out of self-interest and survival. Migrant women and girls thus find themselves entangled in a web of anxiety and hope, of conflict and resilience, of compromise and resistance, of oppression and endurance. Their journey is one of faith, hope and courage drawing strength from the Blessed Mother who, they believe, shares their struggles and pain. It is for this reason that despite the diversity of their faith traditions they have great recourse and devotion to Mary, even undertaking pilgrimages to different Marian shrines. Migration has to be looked at in terms of a fluid movement involving changes, choices and chances. Since migrants face a number of challenges, they need support and a change in government policy with regard to wage discrimination, health and safety, child related issues, access to housing and other benefits. Rather than looking at migrants as
outsiders or outcasts and a threat or nuisance, they need to be recognized and treated with love, respect, and compassion. Restoring their sense of worth and dignity is a vital human and ecclesial task to engage them in their process of liberation. In his message for the 105th world day of migrants and refugees on 29th September 2019, Pope Francis calls for a major shift from a culture of exclusion, indifference, intolerance and marginalization to a culture of concern, compassion, listening and inclusion. He advocates four significant practices of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating, not just migrants and refugees but all disadvantaged persons, in order to build a just society and promote the integral development of all persons. Since migrants represent different cultures and religions, engaging with them provides opportunities for interreligious dialogue and collaboration for peace and a renewed humanity. We need to move from a consumer culture of wanting more to the Ignatian magis of loving more and doing more for God and for others. The writer is a member of the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, Pune Province and teaches Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy and Theology, Pune.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 11
Spirituality
St. Francesca Cabrini
‘The mother of the immigrants’ Try your best to be a saint and see how far you’ll fall. Sai Marie
Scholastic Jovito N. Vaz, SFX
T
he saints are the best gift that the church has given to us. We can look unto them as our role models. In this issue, I would like to pen down the life of St. Francesca Cabrini. Cabrini was the 13th child of a well to do farmer in Lombardy (Italy). She grew up with good Christian virtues right from her childhood. In the year 1880, she along with her six companions made their first profession and she founded the congregation of the Missionary sisters of Sacred Heart (MSSH). Due to Sr. Cabrini’s marvellous gift of organisation and administration she opened several schools and various institution for the orphans. Through this service they proclaimed the love of Christ to those who had no one to look after them. Francesca Cabrini said that, “There is a penance which has made saints and which everyone can practice!”. This was very much seen in her life. In true humility, she also taught this same to her nuns too, that the welfare of their poor charges did not depend upon them but rather on God working through them. She taught them to pray and ask without ceasing for the spirit of prayer, that is, have the mind always fixed on prayer and will only what God wills!
Some of her ventures were so audacious as to seem to have been miraculously inspired and were proof of the founder’s magnificent faith and trust in God. ‘Have faith and you will behold miracles!’ she would say. In the interest of her rapidly expanding institutes, ‘The mother of the immigrants’ had to learn three new languages and do a lot traveling around the 12 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
world which was not so easy during her time. During her life time she succeeded in establishing religious foundations, schools, orphanages, hospitals etc. all for the poor and marginalised orphans and the number of her sisters grew around 4,000!In the last days of her life she always cherished the good works that she did along with her sisters as one family for the Lord. Mother Cabrini died suddenly and alone in the Chicago house of the Order on 22 December 1917, when she was 67, and in 1946 she was canonized within the remarkable short time of 27 years. This humble soul has a lot to teaches us. She was filled with the love of Christ which she proclaimed through her deeds. She carried on the mission of her saviour, just as Jesus went about doing good (Acts 10:38). She also reached out to the poor, migrants, orphans and that’s how she walked in the footsteps of Jesus. Today the world and especially our country India is in need of such people who will care for these subalterns. So, can I and you reach out to them and make a difference in their world? The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of First Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa.
Spirituality
Migrant Holy Family
MT. 2,13-16
Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX
Lectio: Egypt had been a house of bondage to
Israel, and particularly cruel to the people of Israel; yet it is to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. God can overturn nations and kingdoms, so that those whom he loves shall be safe anywhere. Moreover, it is remarkable that this is the only time in which Jesus was out of Palestine. A comment on the command of the angel needs attention. The Greek text ἐγερθεὶς παρέλαβεν (egertheis parelaben) meaning “arise and take”; not, ‘When thou hast arisen (in the morning), take.’ The command was immediate; and Joseph made no delay. There must have been a real sense of urgency and fear. Woken up in the dead of night by an angel, and told to flee to a foreign land would have been frightening enough. Like so many modern-day refugees and migrants, the decision to flee was based on the necessity of survival. Meditatio: When we open our eyes and begin
to relate this story to what is happening in our world, we realize that the flight to Egypt of the Child Jesus with His family is not just a holy picture that we have at home or in the church, but the actual reality of all those families forced to emigrate. The Child Jesus, Mary, Joseph are all those millions of children, mothers and fathers who have to leave their lands to survive, to protect their very lives and to struggle to make a better future. The Holy Family is that migrant, refugee family that we have seen in the streets of our city, that family that has knocked
on the door of our homes and has asked for our support and understanding. The flight into Egypt also reminds us that the majority of migrants and refugees do not leave their lands for holidays or as tourists, rather, they have to flee from their homelands since the situation in which they live offers no alternative. War, violence, social, economic political and racial discrimination oblige millions of people to leave their place of origin as well as their families in search of concrete means of transforming the unjust realities so that no one ever feel obliged to emigrate. God’s incarnation on earth tells us that God displaced himself to become present with all of humanity. What does this mean to you? Oratio: Lord Jesus, you know what it means to
flee from one’s own homeland. Help us to open our minds, hearts and families to those who are seeing a welcoming environment as they turn their backs on danger and distrust. Remind us that you are amongst them, and travel with them as they continue their journey. Help us to listen, understand and be transformed by their stories. Amen Actio: Sacrifice a meal and offer the savings to
someone in need.
The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is pursuing his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome Italy.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 13
Spirituality
Christmas... A reason to rejoice
Dr. Nelly De Sa
T
he month of December brings joy to one’s heart, from the beginning till the end, there are preparations and festivities. The season of Advent this year begins on the first of December and ends on the twenty fourth. The entire period should be a reason to celebrate as we prepare for the coming of our Saviour. It wouldn’t be okay if we just begin our preparations for Christmas when we start putting up our decorations or make the Christmas crib. But our preparation has to seriously begin in advent when we need to prepare our hearts and our homes to receive our Saviour. What does preparing our hearts mean? Just the way we would clean our houses and throw away unwanted garbage, we need to examine our conscience, cleanse ourselves of unwanted things, rid ourselves of our sins and be worthy to receive our Saviour. A celebration without proper planning and preparation would definitely not be an ideal one. But just as we would prepare a list of things to do, items to buy, people to invite and chores to be done, wouldn’t it be nice to do the same in our spiritual life? How often do we make a list of our dark areas, our sins, our shortcomings, our weaknesses and 14 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
our failures? When we actually do so, we will free ourselves of that unwanted garbage and be cleansed, washed and renewed.
St. John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He announced the coming of the Messiah, one who he said was so much greater than him, that he wasn’t worthy to untie the thong of His sandals. John was filled with the Holy Spirit. He preached the Good News and spoke the truth in boldness even to the extent that it cost him his life. If we really need to know our sins and change our hearts and make them worthy to receive our Saviour, we need the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our helper and guide and only with his help we could make a good spiritual preparation for Christmas.
How often do we ask the help of the Holy Spirit? How often do we invite him into our lives? Do we really depend on him for inspiration and guidance in our day to day lives? We need to strive to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times. And like John the Baptist did, we need to prepare the way for the coming of our Saviour, not only in our lives, but in the lives of others too. What would be Christmas if we only
prepare ourselves and feel joyous, but see sadness in the people around us? The real preparation for Christmas would be helping our family and dear ones in areas where they need help, through our deeds of charity or simply through our prayers. Christmas for a true Christian is not festivities and enjoyment. Christmas for a true Christian is to do what Christ did. The most important message of Christmas is Love. God so loved the world that He sent His only son so that we may have eternal life. The greatest gift of God to us is His son whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. If not for love, there would be no sacrifice. Love should be the theme of Christmas. Love should be the ingredient needed to celebrate Christmas and it is only with love that we can win over our enemies. Love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we are people filled with the Holy Spirit we would always be full of love. Love helps to forgive, love helps us to see the needs of others, love leads us to sacrifice and it is love that will bring everlasting joy and peace in our lives. This year, as we reflect upon the advent themes of hope, peace, joy and love and listen to the homily on every Advent Sunday, let us make a list of things we need to do for our spiritual preparation. How can we radiate joy; how can we bring about peace in our neighbourhood, and how can we be filled with God’s love? There is always a hope that our Saviour, our ever loving and merciful God, is always by our side,
moulding us and helping us to be what He would like us to be. But we need to invite Him into our lives. We need to open our hearts to receive Him. When the disciples encountered the storm in the sea, they woke up Jesus who was asleep and asked for His help as they feared their boat would sink. How often do we resort to Jesus as our first option when we find our boat is sinking? Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our Saviour. When we say our Saviour, we need to believe and trust in Him as our only Saviour. We need to prepare the way for Him. Our hearts, our minds, our souls need to be worthy to receive Him. Each passing day of our preparation should make us aim at being not just ordinary, but extraordinary Christians and Saints. It is a wonderful feeling to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, our helper and guide. Living a life in the spirit would help us not only to make a real preparation for Christmas but to live each day of our lives beautifully. Just as St. John the Baptist preached the Good News, we too should be instruments of God and help prepare the way for the coming of our Saviour. Christmas is a reason to rejoice. Wishing you all a happy, peaceful, joyous, spirit filled Christmas. The writer is a Consultant Pediatrician, Santa Cruz-Goa.
Nightingale of Goa 2019
The Grand Finals of Nightingale of Goa 2019 , an All Goa original Konkani solo singing competition was held on 10th November at Ravindra Bhavan Margao. This is the 3rd edition and its being organized by Pilar Music Academy (Pilar Fathers-Goa Province). Fr. Mateus Fernandes, sfx , Provincial Superior of Goa Province was the Chief guest . The winners were as follows. Juniors: Jousha Pereira (Agaciam – winner); Andrea Pearl Rego (Ponda- 1st runners up), Moses Cardozo (Fatorda -2nd Runners up); Teens: Liza D`Silva (Curchorem-Winner); Delailah Dias (Fatorda – 1st Runners up); Ashloyd Dourado (Utorda- 2nd Runners up); Youth: Sudhindra Shanbhag (Navelim- Winner; Simran Vas (Varca -1st Runners up), Voller D`Costa (Navelim- 2nd Runners up), Seniors: Rakhee Rodriques e Fernandes (Paroda-winner), Mira Fernandes (Curchorem- 1st Runners up); Dinesh D`souza (Macazana- 2nd Runners up). Miss Pricy da Gama was awarded for the best song melody and Mr. Veldroy Mesquita from Ponda for the best lyrics. The Music brigade provided the lively music and Mr. Ashley Fernandes was the emcee.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 15
Youth
Make your life count for today and eternity Ibonio D’Souza
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ne day you will stand before God and give an account of your life. The most important question you can ask yourself now is, will you be ready? Many of us would be shocked to learn that the majority of our time was spent on things that did not count towards eternal rewards. Learning to keep sight of the goal will allow us to begin labouring for rewards that endure - for eternity.
SUCCESS: The desire of most people is to live a life that counts. This is a right and godly aspiration. It was Moses’ request in his prayer: “Teach us to make the most of our time.... and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful” (Psalm 90:12, 17). He began by asking for wisdom to make the most of time. Many things lost in life can be restored; however time misused can never be recovered. God wants our life to be significant. He makes this known throughout Scripture. Here are just two: “The Lord your God will make you successful in everything you do” (Deut. 30:9). Notice the word everything, not some things! Again we read: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Josh. 1:8). Wisdom gives us 16 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
the knowledge and ability to make right choices at the opportune time. True wisdom is given to all who fear the Lord. In order for you to build a life of eternal significance, you must do it through godly wisdom. However, success is many times perceived the way society defines it, rather than the way God views it. We will all one day stand before the Judge of the universe, Jesus Christ, and if we have made our life count through godly wisdom, we will be rewarded eternally. If we have been misguided in our affairs, we will either be punished or suffer eternal loss. ETERNITY AND GOD: Scriptures say: “No one can begin to understand eternity” (Job 36:26), and “He has put eternity in their hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). What is it? How it is defined? The truth is that eternity cannot be mentally comprehended. Our minds are finite, prohibited from grasping perpetual or everlasting concepts. Take a moment and imagine where the end of the universe is. Can your mind take in the endlessness of the universe?
Scripture declares that God, man’s Creator, He is from everlasting to everlasting. If He was not born, if no one created Him, then how did He begin to be who He is? The truth is He did not evolve into God, for the Psalmist declares, “Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Ps. 90:2). Meditate on this a while. If you do, you will frustrate your intellectual reasoning, as Job wrote, “no one can begin to understand eternity.”
Eternity is born in every human being. There are many atheists who emphatically deny the existence of God, but in their heart they know He exists, for it is planted there as Scripture states of all mankind, “For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts”(Rom. 1:19). The fear of God is what keeps our heart within the reach of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent” ( Acts 13:26). We need to listen with our hearts. The Holy Spirit will commune with your innermost man, not head. Let His Word be hidden in your heart through contemplation and prayer. To capture the best view of eternity, we must look at God Himself. He is not limited in power, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and glory, just to name a few. He is self-existent; forever was and forever will be God. He is called the “Everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). “King of Eternity” (1 Tim. 1:17). According to the Bible, all that is eternal is found in Him; in fact, eternity itself is found in Him. All that is outside of
Him is temporal and will change. Even the earth and universe will change, but He will not.
JUDGEMENT DAY: Many today are not building their lives on the eternal - God’s Word - but rather cultural thinking, tradition, assumptions, and emotional feelings about who God is. It is a scary thing to believe something temporal as being the eternal truth. If this is done, your foundation is faulty and setting you up for a sure fall. You will believe a lie and are in a deceived state. Jesus said: “He who.... does not receive My words, has that which judges him the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say and what I should speak” (John 12:4849).
The key that will give us confidence on Judgement Day is the love of God being made perfect or matured in us. Apostle John makes it clear that the love of God is perfected in keeping His commandments, not in behaving in a way that is good in society’s eyes or human reasoning. The writer is author of the widely read motivational book “Rise And Shine...the lotus way”, and a social activist.
“First State level iEARN workshop held at Fr. Agnel College, Pilar
Xaverian Educational Society (XES) in association with Fr. Agnel College, Pilar, and iEARN (India) organised a one day state level International Education and Resources Network (iEARN) Workshop for Heads of Institutions at Fr. Agnel College, Pilar, on 7th November 2019.
The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Nagraj Honnekeri, Director of SCERT. He congratulated XES for thinking out of box to bring technology to the classroom. He appealed to educationist to link syllabus to realities of life. The Resource Person Dr. Sunita Bhagwat, Director of iEARN India said that the aim of the workshop was to encourage students to exchange projects and to provide support to educators. She said The iEARN is now connected to the student community from 126 countries and is hoping to start unit in Goa. Ms. Vandana Rao (IAS), Director of Education was the Chief Guest. She said that we must all work to give the best to our students. The Guest of Honour, Rev. Dr. Sebastian Mascarenhas, Superior General, Society of Pilar, and the President of XES, exhorted the educators to innovate on a regular basis in order to keep up to the changing requirements. Fr. Mateus Fernandes, the Chairman of XES stressed on the need to navigate technology for the progress of students. Fr. Allan Noronha, Joint Secretary-Education, XES and Workshop Co-ordinator in his welcome speech also urged the officials and educationist to protect minority rights enshrined in our constitution. The workshop was attended by about 40 heads of institutions and other delegates.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 17
Youth
Walking With Youth Fr. Joe Fernandes, SFX
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recollect the words of a wise Jesuit: “Listen, not so much to the words spoken to you, but the feelings that lie behind the words and respond to those.”
“I don’t want to see that rascal, he has spoilt my name,” “I don’t like to talk to him,” “I cannot stand that boy,” “I cannot bear the sight of that girl,” “I hate that group”. How often have we not made such statements while talking about others! A youth came to me once to share about his personal relationship with one of his colleagues. At the end he said, “Joe, I cannot forgive him for what he spoke about me.”All of us have sometimes been offended by our friends, colleagues or relatives. Very often we have felt that our broken relationship with the other person is beyond repair. Some-times we try to seek reconciliation, but are unable to work it out. Often we are more preoccupied with the deep hurt that keeps us away from reconciliation and we continue to nurse hostility. We continue to distance ourselves from the persons who have caused the wound, who have deceived or cheated us. Our daily newspapers carry a whole lot of news – mostly boiling down to violence, rape, misappropriation of funds, killings, murders etc. that 18 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
creates a telling impact on the mindset of our youth. In such situations, they are naturally bound to lose hope and trust in the system, in politicians, leaders and even in one another. The chaotic situation drives them insane leaving aside all the goodness that they are surrounded by.
I am particularly concerned with the youth of today who are magnificent thinkers, very energetic, willing to explore, creative, self-conscious. Unlike the seniors, they do not seek comparison among themselves, nor are they caught in a show of attitude, but are the beacons of hope and the shapers of tomorrow and the makers of the new India.
It is rightly said, ‘if no youth, no vibrancy, no life in a parish’. Like a football match, life “only takes players on the first string, and has no room for benchwarmers,” Today’s world demands that everyone be a protagonist of history, because life is always beautiful when we choose to live it fully, when we choose to leave a mark.” However, most of us have no time, nor the energy to get on with such causes. Not so with the youth! They love to take on challenges and yearn to stand up for a cause. In my conversation with a number of youth found in our
villages and towns, who have aligned themselves with the Church as ‘Youth for Christ’ or young pillars of the Church of Christ, I have become aware of their longing to begin a new life with and in Jesus. Such were their expectations during my conversation encounter that I was truly happy to know that deep down in their hearts; there is a profound longing for Jesus and his sacraments.
We need to encourage our youth to build our Catholic Church by their talents, skills and potentials. We need to give each youth the freedom to make his/ her own mistakes and catch him/her when he/she falls instead of saying “I told you so.” God will use our youth mightily once they commit themselves for the sustainable progress of our faith and to dedicate themselves for the missionary work of our Lord.
In the Bible we can see how God used young people’s minds, their imaginations, their skills their voices. The great words of the prophets taught the people, warned them and gave them hope. These same prophets told people who were proud, conceited, or selfish, that God did not think that big houses and expensive clothes were as important as justice, goodness, and obedience to him. As youth is the backbone to the sustainable progress of the Church they need new eyes to see and new ears to hear the cries of injustice that are taking place
in our society. There is a saying that leaders are not born but made. However, I am sure in our present Indian context youth leaders are not born but made/ committed for sustainable progress, after seeing the pathetic conditions. Our youth have to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly with their soul, strength and mind for the sustainable progress of our faith. The present Indian context demands servant leaders like Our Lord Jesus Christ who came not to be served but to serve. So, to accommodate the modern youth, the Church must come forward to demonstrate the witnessing life which our Master left us.
I have slowly come to listen and respond to the feelings of hurt and pain that lie behind many rude and angry youth during my parish ministry. As a matter of fact, the truth dawned on me after I had a conversation with some youth and listened to them. They shared hurtful and sad experiences they underwent. As I recollect the same words of a wise Jesuit: “Listen, not so much to the words spoken to you, but the feelings that lie behind the words and respond to those.”
The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Asst. Vocation Promoter, Pilar-Goa.
The Association of Spiritual Brothers and Sisters celebrates 75 years
Association of Spiritual Brothers and Sisters, the lay branch of the Society of Pilar, celebrated the platinum jubilee of its formation on 17th November 2019. This association was formed by Br. Henry De Souza sfx on 2nd September, 1944 to have an army who would support the missions and missionaries through their prayer. The solemn eucharist was presided by Rt. Rev. Alwyn Barreto, Bishop of Sindhudurg. Rev. Fr. Sebastiao Mascarenhas sfx, Superior General of the Society of Pilar, Fr. Nazareth Fernandes sfx, the Vicar General, Fr. Joseph Fernandes sfx, Spiritual Director and other priests were also present. In his message to the members, the Bishop appreciated them for their support they render to the missions and urged them to be always fervent in prayer. A special souvenir was released to commemorate this special occasion at the hands of Rt. Rev. Alwyn Barreto. The eucharist was followed by a cultural programme where in each group presented creative cultural items.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 19
Mission Musings
Serving the Goan Immigrants in Swindon, UK
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he Pilar Fathers are no strangers to England. Their presence in this land traces back to at least 3 decades, in the years following largescale migration of peoples from different parts of the world, especially from their Empire.
Undoubtedly, England was a different place then with immigration attaining a scale hitherto unheard of, owing to the far-reaching freedom movements in some parts of the world, that was to change the demographics of the country permanently. With this wave of immigration, came hundreds of Goans from the erstwhile East African colonies. A product of this development was the establishment of the then Asian Chaplaincy, with the noble objective, in short, to cater to the spiritual and temporal needs of these new arrivals, trying to find their feet in an alien environment.
Significantly, as the years went by, the Asian Chaplaincy came into the hands of the Pilar Fathers, which eventually was re-christened to the Goan chaplaincy (which it is still known as today). Due 20 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
Fr. Lucas Rodrigues, SFX to the further growth of the Asian immigrant population---which necessitated the narrowing down the chaplaincies to their individual national ethnicities.
For number of years now, the Goan chaplaincy has worked as a pivot in London, cementing the Goan community through its various activities to promote, preserve and share the spiritual and cultural heritage of Goa. The Goan chaplaincy functions from Mitcham, a suburb of London, where the Pilar Fathers also run the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul. It has been doing splendid work in the London dioceses of Southwark, Westminster, Brent, and Arundel and Brighton, and the Diocese of Clifton/Swindon.
The town of Swindon in recent years has come to be known as the hub of new arrivals from Goa, with an estimated Goan ethnic population of around 13000 people, residing in and around the town. This influx brought along with it all the concomitant socio-cultural festivities. The town became a secure
place to find employment for our people--given its large industrial base, providing the well-needed stability and a window for success. As is the case of any new immigrant community, the desire to cling to their cultural traditions and celebrate them with gusto in these new environs was a welcome sign of a confident community. Soon, there were celebrations all around, all of which were centred around the presence of a Goan priest.
Feeling the needs of this burgeoning Goan population, Bishop Declan of Clifton Diocese heeded to our request to establish a Goan chaplaincy in Swindon. Besides the Chaplaincy, the Bishop has now given us the charge of providing pastoral care to the neighbouring parish of Wooten Bassett. Expectedly, amidst all this goodness, this sudden surge in the immigration trajectory also ushered in unintended socio-cultural troubles, and perhaps a spiritual vacuum that could be addressed only by someone that they could relate to as their ‘own’, understanding their backgrounds, their history, their traditions and customs, socio-cultural conditions or simply their mind-set. The Goan chaplaincy (Swindon) was established to fill this void and to render pastoral care. Over the years that I have been there, I have had the opportunity to have an insight into the community life of our people. I was fortunate in a way, that being familiar with Swindon due to my past pastoral visits did help in settling down a lot quicker.
I have seen how difficult and challenging it is for some of them to fully integrate with the local community without compromising the core elements of our faith and cultural heritage. The demands imposed by the country’s life-style and the social trends are sometimes difficult to reconcile with the cherished values we have inherited from our fore-fathers. This is clearly more evident in the case of our youth who in the absence of a strong anchor find it difficult to moor their feelings of angst, peer pressure, insecurity, vulnerability etc. They are the ones who are often lost in the sea of uncertainty and chaos. I was concerned by what I encountered in Swindon. Our youth and families were falling apart. Some of them had succumbed to different vices, like gambling, drug addiction, drinking, etc. Our ageold values had clearly taken a beating. Their newworld, instead of offering them newer opportunities for growth and achievement was enticing them with fast-track allurements. Spiritual aridity was replacing it all. Something was amiss in their lives.
This was alarming.
The economic constraints or the pursuance of financial stability compelled both the parents to go to work, which more often than not resulted in reducing family-time together, misunderstandings, marital conflicts, children truancy, and so on…. With the benefit of this knowledge, I started my mission with a clear focus and vision, engaging directly with every segment of our population to tackle these disturbing trends.
My approach was to feed our people with spiritual nourishment, bring them closer to God and bring those who had gone astray back onto the tracks. I began with pastoral visits to the families, started a renewal movements, Bible conferences, retreats which are now all held and organised on a regular basis.
Hundreds of people now attend these services. The youth movement is a phenomenal success.
What we started with a small group of 8 people, has today grown into 30 active core members who take it upon themselves to organise various activities throughout the year for hundreds of youth from Swindon and elsewhere. It is gratifying to note that some of these youth are fully and completely involved in the ministry providing support, direction and focus to their fellow youth in their times of distress and difficulties. Many are pulled back from the stray course and others guided to the right path. To strengthen the family ties, we have begun weekly Bible Classes. We started with just 15 persons. Today on every Wednesday, there are at least 130 people regularly attending these classes to listen to and study the Word of God. In my frank opinion, I felt that the needs of these people is far beyond the Sunday obligation and sacraments.
Swindon is a mission for a real missionary. Beyond the geographical and physical restrain. A time to reevangelise, to revisit our catholic roots and values in an increasingly secularised society. The challenge beckons…. The mission continues……. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Wiltshire, UK. He is catering mainly the Goan immigrants FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 21
Mission Musings
An Energetic Pilar Missionary at 88 An Interview with Fr. Marden Pereira, SFX
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Scholastic Prakash Minj, SFX
r. Marden is from Colva Goa. He is the eldest son of Francisco and Pulqueria. God had blessed Francisco and Pulqueria with the gift of six children. And out of six children two of them surrendered themselves to God, for His service, one a nun and a priest. They were devout Catholics and raised their children in the love and fear of God. As a family, they regularly prayed in the morning and in the evening their mother taught them prayers and educated them. She taught her children to have a special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Fr. Marden was born on 4th August 1931 and joined the first batch of the Re-Organized Society in 1942. He was ordained a Priest on 7th March 1957. Since then Fr. Marden has been zealously working in the missions among the poor and marginalized, giving them spiritual and moral support. He is one of the oldest missionaries of Punjab and Haryana. As a Pilar Missionary he loves to work with the people of other faith. He identifies himself with the people he works. He has a simple lifestyle and live a life of poverty. He loves to use public transport and travels in general compartment when commuting by train. Presently, Fr. Marden is working in the Mission of Narnaul in Haryana. He has special devotion to Mother Mary and he loves to pray Rosary.
Who influenced you to consider the vocation to priesthood? My parents raised me in a prayerful atmosphere. Their love for Jesus was so much that they took us every Sunday for the eucharistic celebration. They lived a life of prayer, dedication and devotion. One day for the Sunday mass a Bishop came to my Parish, I looked at him and was fascinated by his dress (mass vestment). I liked him in that dress so much that after the mass when I went back home, I told my parents “I want to become like that priest who came to celebrate mass today in our parish.” I had no idea that he was a Bishop but my parents told me that he was a Bishop. My parents were very happy when they heard about my decision. They were ready to send me to join the seminary to become a priest. They also told me that I will have to go to Rachol and join Rachol Seminary. But God had some other plan for me.
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What attracted you to join the Society of Pilar? Actually, I had no idea about Pilar Society, all I wanted was to be a Priest. I was not attracted to the Society of Pilar but it was God’s will that I joined the Society of Pilar. After the completion
of my primary studies, during the holidays while my parents were preparing to send me to Rachol Seminary, one day one of the Re-organizers Brother came to my village and when he learnt that I wanted to join the seminary, he asked me to come and join the Pilar Seminary. That’s how I joined Society of Pilar. Today, as a Pilar Priest I am happy and joyful. Which are the mission places you have worked in? As a Pilar Missionary I have worked in so many new missions. I have worked in the missions of Sanvordem, Mumbai, Sirsa in (Haryana), Bathinda (Punjab), and Bhopal. My first appointment after my ordination was in Sanvordem as the in-charge of boarders for two years. After that I was sent to Mumbai Diocese and I worked there as an assistant parish priest of St. Ignatius Church for two years. Then, again I was appointed in Sanvordem as incharge of boarders for three years. From Sanvordem I was sent to one of the new missions in Sirsa (Haryana). I worked there for three years. Then I was sent to Bathinda (Punjab) in one of the new missions for two years. Then again, I was brought back to Sirsa to look after the boarders. And for many years I have been working in the missions of Haryana and Punjab. As a Pilar Missionary I have mostly worked with the people of other faiths. I am also convinced that as a Pilar Missionary my work is not with wellestablished Christians but with the people of other faiths. I have also worked in Bhopal and Sanguem. Can you share any inspirational memorable moments that you cherish? I was always motivated and inspired by our ReOrganizes: the way they lived, worked, supported and motivated each other was always an inspirational. When I joined the Society was new and had no financial stability. Every year the number of the member was growing and we had nothing to eat. There was no financial support so, we all had to work hard to support ourselves and trust in the providence of God. Since then I have experienced the providence of God in our Society and in my life. I was
really touched, the way our re-organizers worked in the fields and cultivated. I also feel satisfied and joyful when I recall the memories of how I lived in the missions without electricity, toilets, and proper infrastructure. When I first went to Punjab, we didn’t have a proper house, so, we used to live in a hut happily and joyfully. All these experiences have made me a better missionary and I know the pain and struggle the poor people undergo each day.
What has been some of your greatest Joys as a missionary? My greatest joy has been my service to the poor and marginalized. In the missions of Panjab, I used to visit them, work with them, celebrate mass for them and teach them catechism. In the mission people are poor, simple and uneducated yet when I visited them, they accepted me as one of them. I also find joy in obeying my superiors. I am a missionary so anywhere my superiors send me; I am ready to go and do the given responsibility faithfully. I love to pray so I spend my time in prayer and reflection.
What advice would you give to a young man who is contemplating a Vocation to Priesthood? Today there is competition for each and everything, from haircut, mobile, bikes, cars and dress. A youngster may be carried away easily by all these things. But they need to be cautious about all these worldly attractive things. Today, there is also a decline in vocations to religious life, so my advice to all the youngster is to be committed to your faith and allow Jesus to lead you rather than being led by the world. God has a special plan for each one of us so, let us be open to seek God’s plan. Also, today prayer has no place in our families I think it is important that we pray as one family because a family which prays together stays together. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of Second Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa.
INNER GLOW Jesus Calls Ministries, under the baton of Fr. Mark Furtado, sfx and Fr. Joe Fernandes, sfx organized “INNER GLOW”, a Motivational programme for students of class seven. Around 540 students from the 8 schools administered by Pilar Fathers Goa participated in the event which took place on the 8th day of the novena of Fr. Agnelo. The students were kept engrossed through a variety of activities. Mr. Ronaldo Martinho Fernandes, Regional Sales Manager of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Co. Ltd. spoke on Positive Thinking and Mr. Evereth Fernandes, Assistant Professor in History at Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sanquelim Goa spoke on the topic - ‘Learning’.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 23
Oh! Goa
Be kind to migrants
“Do not forget to be kind to migrants, for by doing so, some people have embraced Angels without knowing it.� Hebrews 13
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oming from the poorest of the poor, migrants are highly stigmatised and often looked down upon as beggars and as others, and sometimes unwanted. This unorganised band of labourers, most of whom come from backward classes are not recognised either by society or institutions but play a vital role in the day to life of the locals by working in our fields and on construction sites. If you take a careful look at the situation you will be able to find out that the migrants are playing a major role in the development of the state. Today a major part of businesses is dependent on the migrants. The builders cannot do without the workers who are migrant. The vegetable vendors and now even the fish vendors are migrants. The traditional Poders (Bread Makers) are also migrants now. 24 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
Sr. Techla Pereira, PVBM
The new generation does not want to continue the traditional work carried out by their forefathers and hence many businesses as well as professions are getting extinct from Goa. Today, you cannot find the coconut pluckers. All the domestic help around in the society belongs to the migrant community. How Goans will be able to manage without migrants is the question before every Goan today. Through research, we realize migrants played a vital role in doing jobs that we locals did not feel fit to do, like working on building roads and construction sites. A lot of migrants came into Vasco the port town when Birla first started its factory. There is no doubt that Goa needs its migrants, especially if its dreams of industrialisation are to become a reality. Every important post-liberalisation project - the
Mormugoa Port Trust, Goa University, the Konkan Railway - and now the refurbishing of buildings and roads in Panjim have all been possible only because of migrant labour. Most if not all the labourers involved in road and building construction, fishing and agriculture are from Maharashtra and the northern districts of Karnataka and had come in the decades gone by. Today’s migrants are mainly from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal. They endure the taunts and the discrimination because work is available in plenty and the wages (around Rs.100) are better than what they get back home even if they are lower than what the natives get. It is very important to understand where our migrants fit into the chain of life here in Goa. The Holy Father Pope Francis has invited his listeners to treat migrants with acceptance and solidarity, to empathize with them and to recognize their value and human potential. We are members of the human family
We as Presentation sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary here in Mangor, Vasco felt very deeply in the spirit of Nano Nagle our founder, to walk that extra mile to include in our school, the children of the migrants who arrived and a slum was formed, against the desires of the local people who failed to accept them and accept the fact that everyone is related in some way, precisely because they too belong to the same human family. Sisters were aware of children of the migrants loitering around so in August 1981 we started a nursery school with 52 students, mostly boys. In November 1982, on the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after the liturgical Mass, the sisters were forced to go on to the streets on a morcha for the cause of justice for the oppressed - our migrants. There was arson in Vasco and we were forced to close down the school for two days. Many of the migrants began moving out of Vasco. We faced a lot of opposition but God was with us through like-minded people. It took us some time to start all over again as we waited for the families to feel safe to come back. Our founder Venerable Nano Nagle’s words “great work meets with great crosses, but the Almighty is all sufficient” never left us hoping …We are now teaching the third generation and to meet so many of them who are doing so well is the joy of our harvest of all these years of dedicated work. We have moved into the medical stream taking care of the HIV AIDS people and their children the Vision of Sr. Deepthi P.B.V.M who noticed so many funerals passing our convent gate and she was inspired to find out what was
the cause of these deaths and it was mostly people who were affected by this horrible disease. Sister Deepthi decided to take a U turn leaving the teaching profession for this cause and God be praised a lot has been achieved and a lot is being done by this trust Jivan Joyti. Each of us bears a share of responsibility for our communities, and hence for the world as a whole … Everything we do, however small, affects the world around us .Martin Hawes
Let a person be a Hindu, a Muslim or a Christian, a local or a migrant, no one in the human family should be treated as discarded material. Every human being is worthwhile created to be the crowning beauty of all creation! All of us have in our hands, the responsibility and also the opportunity to make the world better and safer for all people. All we need to do is choose to be Good Samaritans or to be Indifferent Travellers, but more importantly, go into the world and do good. “I have one life and one chance to make it count for someone... My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.” (Jimmy Carter). The writer is a member of the Presentation Sisters based in Goa. She has been working with the migrant children whom she considers as her treasures. Other than India, she has worked in Israel with marginalised Palestinians.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 25
Aren’t we All Pilgrims ?
Inside India
Fr. Henry D’Souza, SFX
O
n a working day I was walking in the corridors of our educational Institution. A couple brought a boy child and requested me to punish him. To my utter surprise I asked the parents – ‘Why should I do this? The parents narrated a list of complains saying “He is disobedient, doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t say his prayers, he keeps watching television, he wants to fiddle with the mobile all the time, and we have been receiving a number of complaints from the school teachers. I asked them ‘how old is he’? They said he is 8. Again I asked them ‘where was he 9 years ago’? After a deep reflection his father said, “he was with God” and the mother said “he was like an angel in the hand of God”. Then I told them, ‘then this child is not yours. He belongs to God. You are just a care taker. Hence treat the child as God’s, who has entrusted His child to your care’. Where are we come from and where are we going, if not ‘all’ most of us know it. The change is inevitable, so also is migration. None of us belong to anything and neither does anything belongs to us. Aren’t we 26 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
all pilgrims, the care takers, and fruit consumers of God’s creation?
Migration inside India: The Dictionary meaning of migration is: relocation, immigration, passage, exodus, movement, journey, voyage, resettlement, etc. All of these are correct in one way or the other to speak about migration.
I wish to focus on few aspects for migration in India; namely Economic, Social, Political, Religious etc. I wish to mention in short each of them so that it envelopes the idea of migration in a simple and a gentle manner.
Economic: Poverty in India is not a new thought. Various ways of its eradication have been worked out and even the control of population has not done very well in this regard. People move from one place to the other for better jobs and to earn their living. Such migration takes place often from rural area to the urban and at times they are even ready to do odd jobs which are not done by the educated or elite. Hence there has been a tremendous movement of
people for the sake of earning their daily bread and to support the family.
For education: Education has been a backbone of Indian civilization and it has formed a person to habilitate self in understanding the society, and environment in a healthy manner. There has been a look out for better Institute, for quality education, as the parents are in good job and want their children to perform better or at least the same. For better life style: its rightly said that ‘shine like the star’. Every parent desires that their child excel in different in talents, performance and in life. Even the ideology today in the young mind is I.C.E. which means Information, Communication and Entertainment. Our youth have a tendency towards glamour. Dreams are dreams when one attempts to realize it. Hence the present generation gets into the world of their imagination and wants to be someone ‘different’ from the other and shine in society in a different way. Natural Calamities: With the constant disturbances from nature one feels threatened; be it draught, famine, earth quake etc. Hence one feels that they should move from one place to the other for the sake of security to life. Religious Migration: though India is a secular democratic country, it has been proven that sometimes due to the caste system, religious beliefs, and differences created by the people with a narrow mind-set, people find it difficult to live as a community in brotherhood and goodwill. Hence they prefer a peaceful place.
Migration from Rural to Urban living: People try to move to the main land as there are enough and more facilities available i.e. from religious fervour to medical facilities, education to entertainment, leisure to pleasure. Hence they seek comfort as their standard of living has changed drastically. Undoubtedly, there has been a steep rise in the migration in India. Though few factors have been mentioned above they are not exhaustible.
The measures: some say, ‘every problem has a solution a problem will not arise or without a solution’. Urban area has become the hub of educational Institutions, hospitals, entertainment centres, and with better facilities like water, electricity, and transport. If the same could be promoted to each village where there is a sizeable population, it can help the villagers to access it. There is a great need to unearth the natural resources. The religion under
which each becomes a better believer and promoter of peace and harmony. The real system of education should focus on adopting agriculture and its products using natural mechanism which preserves nature for the future generation. Finally, when we are a democratic republic, every individual should be taken into consideration in decision making rather than a handful who make norms and rule over the mankind. Of course corruption is a menace to the society today.
My experience working with Migrants: Having finished my religious duties in a catholic church in Goa, I heard God speaking to me ‘love the poor’. I asked myself and started reflecting on what I do for the poor and turned my steps towards the labour class people. I saw there were people of different religions, and language. These people work for mining and breathe the mining dust that would stick to their food pipe in the throat and would cause heart related sicknesses. I said to myself, I cannot do much for the adults as they opted to work to earn their daily bread. Hence took their children away from the dust and started to teach them the alphabet in their native language. The mother earth was the blackboard and the sky was the roof of our non-formal school. About 60 to 70 children used to benefit from it. Later they were sent to a nearby formal school. A teacher who knew their language was employed and it was a joy working with them especially while imparting education. Later, they were admitted to a formal school and are doing well. The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He worked among the migrant children in Goa. At present he is of Nithyadar Church, Salethur, South Kanara – Karnataka. FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 27
Global Gaze
Goans: Migrants to the land of the Brits
F
rom nomadic times, the human species has always been on the move. Nomads are a group of people who are always on the move to and from the same area. However, some humans move to a different place or country and are called migrants.
The UN Migration Agency (IOM) defines a migrant as any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a State away from his/her habitual place of residence, regardless of (1) the person’s legal status;
(2) whether the movement is voluntary or involuntary; (3) what the causes for the movement are; or (4) what the length of the stay is.
People generally migrate in search of better work and economic opportunities. Some even move to rejoin their families who are already a part of the new land, or some even move for further studies.
Nevertheless, there are other not so pleasant reasons which urge people to migrate. Some of these reasons are as follows: people move to escape conflict, terrorism, persecution, or human rights violations. Still others move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural or manmade disasters, or any other environmental factors. While many individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity. The saga of Goans migrating to the UK is nothing 28 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
Vania Cota
different from this. The first recorded wave of Goan migration can be traced back to the sixteenth century i.e. the first century of the Portuguese rule in Goa. Goans were given the opportunity to migrate to any European country, by the Portuguese many years ago.
The provision of Portuguese law allows those born before Goa’s liberation in December 1961 and their two generations to choose a Portuguese nationality. As Portuguese citizens, they are EU passport holders and thus eligible to move, live and work across different European countries. The UK being a part of the EU allows Goans to migrate to the UK. Thousands of Goans move to the UK annually after acquiring Portuguese citizenship, settling mainly in London, Swindon and other parts of the UK.
Besides being migrants in the foreign land, Goans still work hard amidst their busy schedules to preserve their heritage in terms of culture, which includes religion, food, clothing, attitude, habits and other influences. Earlier, just one person from the family used to work abroad to support their families back in Goa, but nowadays the entire family migrates and lives in the UK thus trying in every way possible to make the land of the Brits their home. They celebrate Goa Day annually during the lovely British summer season in Hounslow and Swindon. It is organised by the Goan Association (UK) in collaboration with other Goan organisations and associations. It is the perfect platform for Goans to
meet and interact with other Goans not only from the UK but from different parts of the world. The day begins with a Eucharistic celebration and then continues with all other festivities and delicious Goan food too.
also have access to public funds and services. Once they have completed a continuous period of fiveyear residence in the UK then they too can apply for a settled status.
Since the whole Brexit situation, an alternate arrangement has been made for Goans and others holding Portuguese passports to register for a settled or pre-settled status with the EU settlement scheme.
The weather too isn’t anyone’s best friend. It is difficult to travel to work, far or near, especially during winter, as there are signal failures or rail tracks covered in snow, which affects the smooth running of trains. This makes buses super busy during peak hours. Hence, it becomes a hindrance to those going to work.
Goans also carry certain traditions with them when they migrate to the UK. October being the rosary month, Goan catholic houses continue the tradition of taking the statue of Mother Mary from house to house. You’ll even have certain Goan households making and selling pork sausages like in Goa. Some even cater Goan food for Goan functions and they do that as a full-fledged business. Goans also vote as Europeans or British citizens, at various council elections.
If anyone is an inhabitant who has lived for more than five years continuously in the UK then they and their family can apply for the ‘settled’ status which indicates that one can continue to live and work in the UK for as long as they want. One will also be eligible for healthcare, schools, public services, public funds, pensions, and even British Citizenship if requirements are met. If anyone hasn’t lived in the country for more than five years, then he/she will be eligible for a ‘presettled’ status. This means that they can live here for a further five years. You can live and work and
However, just like any British citizen who is born and bred in the UK, life in the UK isn’t as easy as thought by the Goans living in Goa. Besides the fact that you can earn more and have more job opportunities according to your qualification and merit, you still have to struggle daily. The travelling in this foreign land is expensive, and so is the accommodation and other normal day to day expenses which do not include leisure and fun. It is expensive to buy properties which aren’t even as big as the bungalows which people can buy and own in Goa.
Besides the pros and cons about migrating to a foreign land, the UK will always be home for some Goans while it will remain a strange foreign land for others. The writer describes herself as a cake decorator and food journalist. She is based in London.
Venerable Fr. Agnelo D’Souza a Silent Saint
The 92nd Death Anniversary of Venerable Agnelo D’Souza, was celebrated with great fervour and devotion on 20th November 2019. Thousands flocked to Pilar to seek the blessings of this Holy Son of the Soil and renew their spiritual life. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration was presided by Most Rev. Albert D’Souza, Archbishop of Agra. Rev. Dr. Fr. Sebastiao Macarenhas, the Superior General of the Society of Pilar, in his homily reflected on the parable of the Good Samaritan. He said that Venerable Agnelo was a holy man of God who not just loved God but through his availability, charity and goodness loved his neighbour as highlighted in the parable. Venerable Fr. Agnelo preached the gospel through his holy life. Speaking on the occasion Rev. Fr. Nazareth Fernandes thanked all the devotees and collaborators, especially the Government officials, MLA’s and Ministers, who rendered their services and co-operation and made the celebration a meaningful one.
Fr. Tony Fernandes, sfx, the Vice Postulator of the Cause of Ven. Agnelo de Souza thanked the Archbishop of Agra. He further mentioned that the beatification process is gaining momentum and that we need to pray unceasingly. After the Mass, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Venerable Fr. Agnelo, Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Chief Minister of Goa, released a Special Philatelic Cover in the distinguished presence of Dr. N. Vinodkumar – Post Master General Goa Region, Panaji – Goa.
FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 29
Global Gaze
Be sensitive to persons with disability
3
December is the international day for persons with disability. I have noticed that there is a lot of insensitivity towards persons with disability in Goa. Be it holding programmes in buildings which are inaccessible to persons with disability to occupying parking slots and seats in buses which are reserved for persons with disability or even not stopping the vehicle to allow persons with disability to cross the street. Accessible buildings, reserved parking slots and seats in buses are made for persons with disability to make it convenient for them to move about in society. If the general public is not sensitive to persons with disability and organizes programmes in inaccessible buildings, occupies reserved parking slots and seats in buses and does not stop vehicles to allow them to cross the streets how will persons with disability be able to move about in society? rd
Goa has 33,000 persons with disability as per Census 2011. It is estimated that there are 40,000 persons with disability in Goa as on date. This is the figure of only those with permanent disability. Many of them are educated, employed, self-reliant, achievers and role models in society but they are not able to enjoy life to the fullest due to the above insensitivity and attitudes of society. Then there are those with limited mobility like elderly senior citizens, pregnant women, parent with babies and children and those with temporary disability like fractures who will benefit from holding programmes in accessible 30 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
Avelino de Sa
buildings or stopping the vehicle to enable them to cross the street. By not being sensitive to persons with disability we are leaving out a sizeable portion of society from mainstream society.
3rd December in Goa also coincides with the feast of St. Francis Xavier. It was a person with disability, St. Ignatius of Loyola who was responsible for St. Francis Xavier changing his life and becoming a saint. Ignatius of Loyola asked Francis Xavier only one question – What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul. Today I ask you “Can we call ourselves a developed state if we are not sensitive to a sizeable portion of our society”? As we celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier and the international day of persons with disability let us ask ourselves this question and be sensitive to persons with disability from today onwards. Let us organize programmes in accessible places only, keep reserved parking slots and seats in buses for persons with disability only and stop our vehicles for them to cross the streets. Let us also reach out to persons with disability in our neighbourhood and make Goa a better place for persons with disability. Avelino de Sa is an investment consultant and founder and President of Disability Rights Association of Goa
“Every baptised Catholic is called to be a missionary and to spread the Gospel of Christ.” -Pope Francis
Global Gaze
St. Francis Xavier: A Zealous Missionary
G
od’s will is to save humankind and to establish a relationship with them. He revealed Himself in history with a purpose to bring all people to Him. The Church, the body of Christ, continues this salvific mission of Christ in the world. And we have countless saints and holy people who have borne witness to the gospel. This month we shall reflect on the life of a great missionary. St. Francis Xavier was born in the royal castle of Xavier, in the Kingdom of Navarre, on 7 April 1506. He was the youngest son of Juan de Jassu and Dona Maria. As a boy, he got his basic education from his mother. In 1525, Francis set out Paris to study in the most famous university of the time, the University of Paris.
There, he encountered Ignatius of Loyola who had experienced a religious conversion while recovering from a war wound. Ignatius convinced Xavier to join him on the same path of devotion. At first, he hesitated, but finally Xavier was inspired by his friend’s example. On August 15, 1534, Xavier, Ignatius and other five vowed themselves to the Society of Jesus in the Montmartre.
During the time of Francis, the Order was very active and involved in various religious and spiritual activities. King John III of Portugal was impressed by the Jesuits and asking missionaries to work in his empire. Though Ignatius initially selected others for this task, Xavier stepped in when a fellow priest became ill. He left Rome on March 15, 1540 and on
Scholastic Xavier Soreng, SFX May 6, 1542 Xavier arrived in Goa, India. He preferred to stay in a small cottage. He began to visit the sick, hear their confessions and distribute communion. He visited the prison and rendered spiritual help. He also involved in giving instructions to the children. In 1542, he became the rector of the newly established College of St. Paul, for the priestly formation of local candidates.
His next target was toward China. He travelled to Sancian Island. He was unable to go since the borders had been closed to foreigners. Before he could find a way to go in, Xavier got a high fever and died on the island on December 3, 1552, at the age of 46. Then his body was brought back to Goa. Xavier was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1619, and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622. He is now the patron saint of missionaries. Our mission is to spread the Good News of Jesus and be living witnesses. Pope Francis tells us in “Evangelii Gaudium”, “I am a mission on this earth; that is the reason why I am here in this world. We have to regard ourselves as sealed, even branded, by this mission of bringing light, blessing, enlivening, raising up, healing and freeing.” The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of Second Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 31
Padre Agnel
Fr. Agnelo – created to love and serve the Lord Br. Eusebio Miranda, SFX
G
od created each one of us to know him, to love him, and to serve him with our talents in different situations of life. Our catechism classes have taught us the same and we need to practice what we have learnt. Fr. Agnelo taught this during his sermons. He always spoke about the kingdom of God. He would clearly explain how to love and serve the Lord.
God has indeed created each one of us to know Him and to love Him and to serve Him as long as we live. Moreover, as our life in this world comes to an end we shall enjoy the company of the Holy Trinity forever. To live such a life, we have to face a number of hurdles in this life. If we skip them, our life will not be happy. Keeping the suffering away, will not allow us enter the Kingdom of God. Each one has his or her own vocation in life. We need to respond to it with the help God’s grace and strength. Fr. Agnelo always trusted the Lord and obtained His mercy because he experienced God. Jesus, the son of God indeed gave him strength to enter into his next life. We often come to Fr. Agnelo’s tomb and place our needs before him. And when our needs are fulfilled we think that Fr. Agnelo has fulfilled our needs. However, Fr. Agnelo himself tells us and teaches us that all the favours that we receive are according to God’s will and God’s grace. In fact, Fr. Agnelo is our intercessor before God and the favours or grace comes from God. The priests who studied under Fr. Agnelo as seminarians often shared that Fr. Agnelo, during his sermons, confessions and counselling would ask people to go to Jesus and surrender their life to Him. Even today he asks all of us to “Go to Jesus 32 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019
and place all your needs and sorrows before Him.” Sometimes we do not understand these instructions which he gives us. If we receive favours through him, it is because he has a close relations with Jesus. In joys and sorrows, Fr. Agnelo was closely attached to Jesus. He never cared for any storm that came upon him, because he had the grace and strength of Jesus. He had experienced Jesus in his life and tried to share that experience with others. This is why his prayers are effective before God. Fr. Agnelo invites you and me to do the same. First of all, to experience Jesus in our life and make our life fruitful according to the will of God. Fr. Agnelo asks us to be courageous like the disciples of Jesus and to share Jesus with courage to the people around us as he did in his life and proclaim the Kingdom of God unceasingly. Fr. Agnelo also asks us to follow Jesus as Fr. Agnelo did and to proclaim Jesus to those who do not yet know Him. In fact, many people want to know and experience Jesus but there are no people to show them the way. Fr. Agnelo teaches us and shows us this way like a powerful lighthouse and leads us to Him. Let us open our minds and our hearts not only to receive favours through Fr. Agnelo but also to live our life according to the will of God as Fr. Agnelo did and showed us. Thus let us try to follow the footsteps of our intercessor Fr. Agnelo. Translation credit: Fr. Jesuino Almeida, SFX
The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Editor of Vauradeancho Ixtt, Pilar-Goa.
Padre Agnel
Venerable Agnelo our great intercessor before God Vice-Postulation Office Translation credit: Dr. Nelly De Sa
Anthony Samy (Tamil Nadu): My 78 year old mother had severe pain in the abdomen and doctors said she had a cyst in her ovary. We visited Chennai Adayar Cancer institute , but they did not give us any hope. We had planned a pilgrimage to Goa in 2014, to visit St. Francis Xavier’s tomb and we could not cancel it. So we brought my mother along with us and came to Goa. We went to Pilar and prayed at the tomb of Ven. Fr. Agnelo and went back to Chennai where we met another Doctor who operated her and gave chemotherapy. She was very serious and doctors said she may not survive. Five years have passed and my mother is fine. We thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his sainthood. Lucia Abranches (Consua-Goa): I was five months pregnant and I developed complications in my pregnancy. Doctor said my baby could be born defective. I prayed through intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo to come to my rescue. I delivered a normal healthy baby and both of us are fine. I thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his sainthood. Maria Fernandes (Benaulim-Goa): We didn’t have children even after eleven years of marriage. I had two miscarriages and in my distress I prayed through intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo. I conceived and delivered a healthy baby girl. I thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo and pray for his early sainthood. Catarina Fernandes (Quepem-Goa): My son was working abroad and had come home for vacation. He refused to go back work and said
he would go whenever he feels like. I prayed with faith asking Ven. Fr. Agnelo for prayers. My prayers were heard and my son went back to work.
Peter Fernandes (Colva-Goa): I was getting fever again and again. Doctors gave me lot of medicines but I didn’t find any improvement. I came to Pilar and prayed through intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo. I became completely alright and I am grateful to God and Ven. Fr. Agnelo for his prayers.
Prayer to obtain favours through Ven. Agnelo
Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, we gratefully acknowledge your plan for our salvation, even by working miracles through your chosen servant. We thank you for giving us your faithful servant, Fr. Agnelo, as an example of how to follow in the steps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. With our whole heart, we pray that you may lead us through your Spirit to imitate his saintly life. Grant us also the favour we ask (mention the favour) as a sign that he now shares in the glory of our Risen Lord.
Prayer for the Canonization of Fr. Agnelo
O God of infinite mercy, we humbly prostrate at Your feet, we beg of You, with whole hearted trust, that if it be Your Holy Will, and if it serves our salvation, grant Fr. Agnelo the honours of the Altar through the solemn declaration of Our Provident Mother, the Church. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Miraculous favours obtained through his intercession may kindly be reported to: Vice-Postulator, Cause of Fr. Agnelo, Pilar Retreat Centre, Pilar, Goa India 403 203 Ph.no. (0832) 2219460, 2218694, 2218553 Email: vpagnel@rediffmail.com FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019 | 33
Christmas Greetings Team “Fr. Agnel’s Call” wishes you a grace-filled Christmas Season and blessings in the New Year 2020
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Happy Christmas (War is over) So this is Christmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Christmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Christmas And a happy new year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas For weak and for strong For rich and the poor ones The world is so wrong
By John Lenon, Yoko Ono
And so happy Christmas For black and for white For yellow and red one Let's stop all the fight A very Merry Christmas And a happy new year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Christmas And what have we done Another year over A new one just begun And so happy Christmas We hope…
34 | FR. AGNEL’S CALL | December 2019