SOME SAD EVENTS

The last weeks have seen a string of deaths among people known to me...

• On 15 May Fr. Maurice Figueiredo succumbed to his injuries sustained in a road accident in Goa...a tragic end for a dedicated catechist and pastor...
  
• On 22 May it was Archie Braganza - the grand old man of our parish who went on to his heavenly reward after suffering much in the last few months...
  
• On 23 May Marcus Brahmane - also a senior in our parish went home to the Lord... a good Christian who made many sacrifices for the education of his children...
  
• Then yesterday we received the sad news of the death of Fr. Giuseppe Moja in Italy...a true son of Don Bosco - albeit 'tough as nails' and 'quick of tongue'...
  
• Today it was the turn of the good lady Magdalene D'Souza(popularly known as "Maggie") from Nirmala Home who passed away...a quiet soul who served faithfully and without too much of a fuss...

All of them are sorely missed....

The Easter Season is as good a time if any to recall that for Christians death is not the end but the beginning of a new and everlasting life...

Eternal rest grant to all these good people Lord and may your light shine upon them and all of us...May we know your true peace!!!

FAITH NEEDS SIGNS...

It has been sometime since the last post and once again tragedy seems to make the pen move.

I received news a couple of days ago that a good friend has been diagnosed with cancer. She says she knew it was coming, but with the load of other responsibilities just kept putting off the visit to the doctor. Well now her worst fears have been confirmed.

I would like to share with all the readers of this blog her words - some of the most beautiful I have heard in a long time inspired by Mark 4:35-41. She will I hope pardon my use of them, realizing that they can bring solace to many in pain whose faith does not pre-empt worry, anger, frustration and depression. She writes:

"Having the Lord in the boat does not give us the guarantee that storms will not come our way. The only thing we know for certain is that He will get up from his sleep before we sink. The problem for me is that I don't want Him to sleep even for a second!"

So don't be too upset if in facing the problems of life your faith does not seem powerful enough to remove anxiety and worry. You, too perhaps wish that He does not sleep even for a second on His watch.

Good news - He never sleeps.