From the Editor’s Desk
May Day
M
ay Day honours the struggles, dedication and commitment of workers across the world. In fact, May 1 or May Day was a traditional celebration of spring in the temperate region. However, in 1889, The Second International, an organization created by socialist and labour parties, declared it as International Worker’s Day. May Day or International Workers’ Day had its genesis in the 19th Century labour union movement of the US. The industrial revolution made people leave their farms in search of steady work in the factories in the city. At the height of the industrial revolution in the US, the industrialists exploited workers by making them work 15 hours a day. On May 1, 1886, tens of thousands of working class men and women in the US went on a nationwide protest across cities to demand the eighthour workday. In Chicago, on 3rd May, the peaceful protest, at a metalwork factory, turned violent. Violence broke out between police, private guards and workers. The following day a peaceful public rally was held by the disheartened workers at Haymarket Square, in Chicago, to condemn the police atrocities. During this rally, when the police ordered the protesting crowd to disperse, a bomb exploded leaving many dead and the subsequent police firing resulted in the Haymarket massacre. To mark this tragedy, May 1 is commemorated as International Workers Day. May Day brings to light the dehumanizing conditions of workers and the need to respect their basic rights and protect the dignity of work. In India, due to the lockdown, about 40 million migrant workers have been left idle or thrown out of work. They have been stripped of their livelihoods and were struggling for food and shelter. It took a crisis of this magnitude to feature the issues of migrant workers on prime time TV. It took the intervention of the Supreme Court to direct the state administrators to provide for their basic needs and mental health care. The Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has laid a spotlight not just on the world of work but also on the need for reform. The over 1 million Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers who are
engaged in the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), in recent times, have been working as frontline workers in the COVID-19 crisis. They have been engaged in special services like community surveillance, educating people about safe practices and tracking potential COVID patients in remote regions. However, they earn as little as 3,000 a month and are contractual employees. As ‘corona warriors’ they need to be given the status, social security and benefits that full-time government employees deserve. Last year, in August, groups of workers and farmers organized ‘Save India Day’, a protest rally against the government policies which they described as ‘anti-farmer’ and ‘antiworker’. They claimed that these policies would benefit big companies who are friends with the government to the detriment of workers and farmers. The protesters were enraged with regard to the introduction of three farm ordinances, now farm laws, dilution of labour laws, working conditions and low remuneration for sanitation workers and ASHA workers, high unemployment rates and proposed privatization of public sector enterprises. The government says, that the farm laws are aimed at eliminating the dominance of the intermediaries in the agricultural market who have been exploiting the farmers for years; and these laws would also increase the farmers’ incomes by providing remunerative prices for agricultural commodities. These seemingly good intentions of the government are unacceptable to the farmers who claim that these new laws would have an adverse effect on their livelihoods. There are numerous laws enacted for the protection of the rights, especially of the unorganized workers, however, the implementation of these Acts is far from ideal. The dilution of these laws would result in the exploitation of workers. “Work is for the person, not the person for work”. Let’s do our part in protecting and promoting the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” Elvis Fernandes, SFX Editor
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 3
contents Cover Feature
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April-May, 2021 | Vol. 56
Celebrating the dedication, struggles and commitment of the working class
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Youth A Fresh Start BY Christina Fernandes Marina Fernandes
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BY Dr. Madhavi Kamat
Ideas/Innovation is the name of the Game BY Basil D’Cunha
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Thinking errors that mar our decisions BY Ibonio D’Souza
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OH! Goa Goa Domestic Workers Union BY SR. Marie Lou Barboza, ICM
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Inside India Issues of Labour and notions of development BY Gauri Gharpure
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GLOBAL GAZE All work and no p(l)ay: Diary of a working housewife!
BY Dr. Glenis Maria Mendonca
Editor Dr. Fr. Elvis Fernandes, sfx Editorial Team Dr. Fr. Ivon Almeida, sfx; Fr. Mark Furtado, sfx; Dr. Nelly De Sa; Dr. Rafael Fernandes, Joseph M. Fernandes Printer and Publisher Fr. Noel Menezes, sfx Cover PICTURE Freedesignfile.com Illustrations Dr. Smitha Bhandare Kamat Art & Design Clifford Fernandes Proof Reader Grisel Zuzarte, 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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Mission Musings A Nonagenarian with an indomitable Spirit BY Br. Clive Dias
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Lay-missionaries: Apostles of Christ’s Presence in the Frontiermissions (IV) BY Dr. Fr. Francis Carvalho, sfx
Sacred Space
By continual oppression and exploitation, he accumulates wealth, gold, silver and money, but the load-bearer gets only paltry wages, while the rest of the money passes on to others. He grabs and collects horses, elephants and chariots, and claims them as his own. But when he sets out on the long journey, they will not go even one step with him. Raag Goojaree 497:273-276
Come, look at this glittering world, like unto a royal Chariot; the foolish are immersed in it, but the wise do not touch it. Dhammapada 13:171
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Spirituality Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus BY DR. NELLY DE SA
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St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Model for us BY Dr. Fr. Savio Vaz, SAC
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St. Agnes of Montepulciano BY Scholastic Shailesh Jadhav, SFX
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Work is Divine
The ignorant one craves for a life of luxury and repeatedly hankers after pleasures. Haunted by his own desires he gets benumbed and is rewarded only with suffering Acarangasutra 2:60
Give just measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order. Surah Al-A’raf 7:85
The King and minister should sow seeds and do farming from time to time to set right examples for Arya. This makes them deserving of praise. Rigveda 1.117.21
by Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX
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padre agnel Fr. Agnelo - An amazing pastor
To take away a neighbor’s living is to commit murder; to deny a laborer wages is to shed blood. Sirach 34:26-27
by Br. Eusebio Miranda, Sfx Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 5
A Fresh Start
Courtesy: www. miro.medium.com
Youth
When life becomes a repeated pattern - routine, we tend to label it as ‘boring’. We soon lose the thrill of newness and get fed up of studying for tests/exams or attending office day after day. But is life boring? Or is it just our perception? BY Christina Fernandes
BY Marina Fernandes
I
t is always exciting to start a new academic year or a new job, isn’t it? Something new to learn or a new happy experience brings in a new vitality or energy - a spark into our lives. On the other hand, when life becomes a repeated pattern - routine, we tend to label it as ‘boring’. We soon lose the thrill of newness and get fed up of studying for tests/exams or attending office day after day. But is life boring? Or is it just our perception? 6 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
While we look out for opportunities of newness, it helps to know that we can often create these opportunities – thereby, have renewed interest in what we do every day. Let’s take a common example of students grumbling about a lecturer or subject being boring. You cannot change the way your lecturer delivers a lecture, but you can take that topic, do some additional research, create a snazzy presentation or volunteer to host a fun buzzer quiz for your class. What may possibly happen? You will find a new interest in that subject
and may even help spread the enthusiasm. The same goes with work. Observe situations at work and check what you can do to make life easier/more interesting for everyone. You can set up relay team challenges, organize tasks/projects in the form of virtual team games to build morale, even consider a picnic-like-setup for your next weekly meeting. Of course, this quest to create something new can be easily applied to your personal interests, too - experiment with paint, create new dishes or workout regimens!
Youth One could say that this yearning to create something new, brings about a personality change - you become more confident, raring to go! There are many real-life stories that we come across, about how people never gave up on themselves, no matter how hopeless or defeating their situations appeared. They challenged themselves and were role models to many. You may think they were gifted – actually, we are all gifted in some way or the other; each of us have a mind that can achieve the unthinkable. We need to nurture that mind. You can take something ordinary and make it or change it into something extraordinary. You would have witnessed that during the pandemic, people came up with new ways of doing things. For some, that creativity brought them good earnings - a means to survive; or the start of something new. While we talk about how we can become more creative in our everyday life - to make it more interesting, we would like to draw attention to creating newness in our relationships as well. What do we mean? It could be as simple as putting a new spin to daily routines or redefining roles in our families. Perhaps you can plan a family game night or movie night around dinner. Or you take over and volunteer to do the dishes after a meal or make breakfast for your parents over the weekend. As you read this article, ponder over your current family dynamics and think about new ways of relating and serving those closest to you, by simply changing things up a bit. It will bring in new-found respect, understanding and feelings of being supported and appreciated! Newness in relationships can be fostered by creating new patterns of responding and behaving. Let’s face it: in times of difficulty of
We need to nurture that mind. You can take something ordinary and make it or change it into something extraordinary. relating to others (maybe caused by misunderstanding), we tend to react in the same (unhelpful) ways, respond in the same (unkind) ways, and end up feeling the same (not so great) way.. It’s time that we look at responding differently to situations - to help us, and others feel better. Let’s say someone close to us says something that is hurtful. The classical reaction we might deploy is to ignore or refuse to talk to them. Somewhere deep down, we want to inflict the same pain on them. But this does not help either party. Instead, it leads us to lose precious time and memories together, and in the long run, even damages relationships. So, let’s pause and think of new ways we can behave or relate to others. Perhaps, that means gently but firmly letting the other know how we feel, setting loving boundaries on what is acceptable to us, our self-respect and wellbeing, being gracious in our forgiveness, and having a firm resolve to move past that incident, swiftly and wholeheartedly. Our words, tone of voice and actions are good indicators that point to what we need to work on. By asking the basic question of whether they are causing feelings of goodness or rather, hurt, anger or disturbances, we will understand where we need to change and talk/ behave in new ways, with those
around us. There is plenty of newness we can bring into changing our behaviour. Let’s introspect and be aware of our prejudices and work towards bringing about a change in them. Let’s work on creating attitudes that are all inclusive and unbiased. Can we do more to help those around us? Can we stand for justice without bringing about hate and divisions? Can we save the environment, for a better today and tomorrow? Let’s begin where we are - in our homes, in our educational institutions, in our work place, in the communities that we live in. As Christians, we will be observing Good Friday; the day Jesus died. It’s a time for us to reflect and put to death any thinking that causes disturbance and strife. It’s only then, that we can resurrect into a new life - one which is filled with enriching experiences and meaningful relationships; that is what Easter signifies. During our life’s journey - each day, we need to stop and reflect on our lives, seize opportunities to start afresh and move on with a new hope and new meaning, in order to live a life of love and service. Christina Fernandes is a family & youth Counsellor and Life Skills coach.. Marina Fernandes is a HR Professional in Learning & Development, Coaching and People Management skills.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 7
YOUTH
Courtesy: www. dinu.ir
Ideas/Innovation is the name of the Game
BY Basil D’Cunha
C
ovid 19 has created, among other major problems, joblessness. We cannot survive without earning bucks. So, if jobs are difficult to come by – let’s think of Business. The examples here are people who, when things were tough, decided to Think hard, got innovative ideas, worked on them and then launched into business. Agostinho Fernandes – Physically challenged in both feet yet a successful Business person This young man, though physically challenged in both
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We cannot survive without earning bucks. So, if jobs are difficult to come by – let’s think of Business. The examples here are people who, when things were tough, decided to Think hard, got innovative ideas, worked on them and then launched into business. feet due to Polio, travelled from his town in Quepem to Panaji (over 35 KM) every day to do his Mechanical Engineering in the Polytechnic. After successfully completing his Program, he could not find any employment. He decided to learn Music and soon became a Music Teacher. Many students were keen to learn Music but because of the distance to his Home, were reluctant to come to his place. He then decided to offer Music tuition in their own homes. He did very well. Amey Hegde, a Motivational Speaker, was so impressed with Agostinho that he decided to make a Movie about Agostinho;
to use it to motivate students. Agostinho acted in this Movie of his own life. See the Movie on You Tube “This Book will change your life” https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OtjBglrcqeo Covid changes things. He lost much of his Music business. So what do you think he did? Mind you, he was married and had two children. He saw a business opportunity at the Whole Sale Fish Market in Margao. He took a very tough decision; he and his wife decided that they would sell Snacks and Tea to these Fish sellers and customers. The Market opens at 3.00 am. So his wife prepared the Snacks and Tea and Agostinho
YOUTH would leave the house at 2.30 am with the tea and snacks. He would return after selling all his stuff by 8.00 am. ‘Never say Die’ attitude and total trust in God. Ramesh Babu: Rags to riches Renting Cars An amazing rags-to-riches story of 41-year-old Ramesh Babu. His father P. Gopal – a Barber, died when Ramesh was only 7 years old, in Bengaluru. The family had only the barber shop. Ramesh Babu’s mother decided to work as a cook, to earn a livelihood. She gave Ramesh some education, so he could earn a living. She rented the shop for Rs.5/- per month. The family managed with just one meal a day. Ramesh managed to complete a Diploma in Electronics and decided to run the Barber shop himself. His venture in the barber shop, did well enough. So he managed to save some money besides looking after the family; saving enough to buy a Maruti Omni. He rented out his car. That was the turning point in his life. This renting out did so well, that Ramesh decided that this is what he would now do, on a bigger scale. So Ramesh Tours & Travels was born. He bought seven cars and rented them out brand new. New cars being available on Rent caught the fancy of Customers, as other agencies gave only old cars on rent. His business grew manifold. Ramesh, in 2004, decided to enter the luxury car Renting segment. He bought a Mercedes Benz at a cost of Rupees 42 lakh. He took a loan from the bank for this. Bengaluru is a thriving Business Centre – these kind of Cars were in demand. So Ramesh knew that he had to further expand this side of the Business. Today, Ramesh’s car fleet consists of around 200 cars, vans and mini-buses, including imported vehicles—a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, Mercedes C, E and S
Amey Hegde, a Motivational Speaker, was so impressed with Agostinho that he decided to make a Movie about Agostinho; to use it to motivate students. class and BMW 5, 6 and 7 series. Ramesh is a millionaire today and still also runs the barber shop. Arjun Solanki from a Free ICICI Course to a Painting Contractor Arjun Solanki is from Baroda Sindhi, a village near Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Both his parents were daily wage labourers. When he was 14 years old, his alcoholic father passed away. His Mother just about provided food, for his brother and himself. Arjun & his brother were forced to drop out of School and both did odd jobs to supplement their Mother’s income. Arjun heard about a free skilltraining course “Paint Applications Technique” provided by ICICI. His mother and older brother supported the idea and urged him to take the course. Today, Arjun is an independent Painting Contractor, who employs people. He knows about different types of paints, their application and solutions to common paint problems. He is aware of the basics of managing finances and knows the importance of grooming and communication. He now has skills that can help run a small business. So how do we begin? 1. Come up with business idea/ something new or not done before. 2. Research the idea thoroughly. 3. Check if there are
Competitors. 4. Check if you have all the skills needed (Technical, Finance, Marketing, Advertising, Distribution). If not, either go and learn or find a Partner(s), who know and are prepared to invest with you. 5.Check what Licenses you need and how to get them. 6. Check how much money you will need Initially. (You must try and use your own money initially). Only once you feel good, about your Plan and your initial foray is a success, then think of a Loan. 7.Determine if your business idea works well from home. Selling is Key. 8. Will you start from Home or would you need place to manufacture, create, or sell.? 9. Go to CIBA at Verna or Assagao or Fiire at Margao and Learn more about Business and get a Mentor to guide you. 10 Go to EDC Panjim and learn about Loans, repayment terms, etc. NEVER SAY DIE. BUT WORK HARD YOU MUST; MAYBE EVEN 16-18 HOURS A DAY. The writer is a career guidance counsellor and has worked for over 3 decades as HR professional in various companies.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 9
YOUTH
Courtesy: www. miro.medium.com
Thinking errors that mar our decisions
Since our attention is a limited resource and we can’t possibly evaluate every possible detail and event in forming our thoughts and opinions, there is ample room for these biases to enter our thought process and affect our decisions.
BY Ibonio D’Souza
W
hile we might all like to believe that we are rational and logical, the sad fact is that we are constantly under the influence of cognitive biases that distort our thinking, influence our beliefs, and sway the decisions and judgments we make each and every day. Since our attention is a limited resource and we can’t possibly
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evaluate every possible detail and event in forming our thoughts and opinions, there is ample room for these biases to enter our thought process and affect our decisions. The following are just a few of the different cognitive biases that have a powerful influence on how you think, how you feel, and how you behave, including suggestions to master them: CONFIRMATION BIAS: This is the tendency to seek out information that supports something you already believe, and is a particularly pernicious subset of cognitive bias - you remember the
hits and forget the misses, which is a flaw in human reasoning. People will cue into things that matter to them, and dismiss things that don’t, often leading to the “ostrich effect,” where a subject buries their head in the sand to avoid information that may disprove their original point. AVAILABILITY BIAS: Your judgments are influenced by what springs most easily to mind. How recent, emotionally powerful, or unusual your memories are - can make them seem more relevant. This, in turn, can cause you to apply them too readily. For instance, when we see news reports about
YOUTH homicides, child abductions, and other terrible crimes it can make us believe that these events are much more common and threatening to us than is actually the case. Try to gain different perspectives and relevant statistical information rather than relying purely on first judgments and emotive influences. SELF-SERVING BIAS: This is the tendency to blame external forces when bad things happen and give yourself credit when good things happen. For instance, when you win a poker hand it is due to your skill at reading the other players and knowing the odds, while when you lose, it is because the referee has been bought and they should have gotten a penalty. ANCHORING BIAS: Here, we rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive. Sales people often exploit this bias by starting negotiations with a high price to make the actual price of the product more palatable. Be wary when someone gives you a price that seems prohibitively high, then offers a lower price as a “concession”. OVERCONFIDENCE BIAS: Thinking your contribution is more important, than it is. This bias occurs when people are overly confident in their intelligence, experience or opinions. It can mask us from the truth and cause people to take risks, certain they are correct in their assumptions. Overconfidence bias go handin-hand with anchoring; with limited knowledge or experience, an idealistic faith in your own decisions can lead you to act hastily or on hunches. OSTRICH EFFECT: How often people avoid negative information, including feedback that could help them monitor their goal progress? Instead of dealing with the situation, we burry our heads in the sand, like ostriches. This avoidance can often make things worse,
SELF-SERVING BIAS: This is the tendency to blame external forces when bad things happen and give yourself credit when good things happen. incurring costs that we might not have had to, if we had faced them head-on. THE BANDWAGON EFFECT: This leads us to favour certain things or beliefs simply because other people do and believe the same things. Just because many people believe something doesn’t make it true...though it does make it much easier for the brain to accept. In many ways, humans behave like herd animals, blindly accepting whatever they encounter as long as there seems to be some social proof. Mark Twain said: “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” It is important not to allow the beliefs of others to sway you - without careful thought and research on your part. Don’t accept things at face value. FRAMING EFFECT: The framing effect is a cognitive bias that impacts our decision making when said in different ways. In other words, we are influenced by how the same fact or question is presented. For example, take two yogurt pots. One says “10% fat” and another says “90% fat free”. The framing effect will lead us to picking the second option, as it seems like the second is the healthier option. DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT: It’s a type of cognitive bias that
causes people to overestimate their knowledge or ability, particularly in areas with which they have little or no experience. Try not to mistake the cautiousness of experts as a lack of understanding, nor to give much credence to laypeople who appear confident but have only superficial knowledge. Philosopher Bertrand Russel puts this so succinctly: “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are certain of themselves, yet wiser people are so full of doubts.” THE HALO EFFECT: This bias refers to the tendency to allow our impression of a person, company, or business in one domain influence our overall impression of the person or entity. For instance, a consumer who enjoys the performance of a microwave that they bought from a specific brand is more likely to buy other products from that brand because of their positive experience with the microwave. SUNK COST FALLACY: You irrationally cling to things that have already cost you something. When we have invested our time, money, or emotion into something, it hurts us to let it go. This aversion to pain can distort our better judgment and cause us to make unwise investments. A sunk cost means that we cannot recover it, so it is rational to disregard the cost when evaluating. If you notice that there are factors influencing your choices, focus on actively challenging your biases. What are some factors you have missed? Are you giving too much weight to certain factors? Are you ignoring relevant information because it doesn’t support your view? Thinking about these things and challenging your biases, can make you a more critical thinker. The writer is the author of the widely read motivational book “Rise and Shine… the Lotus way”, and a social activist.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 11
Oh! Goa
Goa Domestic Workers Union
BY SR. Marie Lou Barboza, ICM
D
omestic work is the largest occupation in Goa. Both locals and non-locals make a significant contribution to the GDP of Goa directly and indirectly. Most domestic workers are illiterate and come from vulnerable communities and backward areas. Many of them are migrants. Some live with the employers and are on call round the clock. There are others who live in rented houses with their families and go to work at more than 4 to 5 houses per day. The
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One good thing that we saw was that many people and organizations became sanctuaries to the suffering poor and came forward to help them with basic needs of daily life. need of domestic workers in Goa is increasing day by day and it creates job opportunities for women. With the present situation of Covid -19, most of them are parttime workers. Before the pandemic they would go to work in 3 to 5 houses per day and earn enough for the family but now they have lost their jobs or some are working only in one house because the employers control them by saying ‘if you go to other houses for work we don’t want you to come to our house for you will bring virus from other houses to us’. The pandemic has affected thousands of domestic workers, especially the migrants.
They suffer a lot even today. Under the excuse of bringing the virus, they are not allowed to go out of the full-time employers’ house. Such families are struggling for survival even today. The education of children has suffered. Parents have not been able to buy smart phones for the children to follow the online classes. Also, if they live in a oneroom rented house, where is the place for them to have a corner to study? Most of the husbands are daily wagers and have no jobs at all, so the women alone earn to maintain the survival of the family. One good thing that we saw was that many people and organizations
Oh! Goa became sanctuaries to the suffering poor and came forward to help them with basic needs of daily life. Our organization created a lot of awareness among the people and government departments to do the needful and a lot of rations came in and was given to the migrant workers. Our National office allowed us to spend all the money meant for the next 8 months, for buying rations and giving to workers. Those affected by the virus were helped to buy medicines. In the fourth month of the pandemic our national office came up with the idea that the affected could be helped through small selfemployment jobs and livelihood programs. We started giving them basic awareness on how to prevent getting Covid, use of sanitizer and mask, and teaching them to make and use masks. And once again our national office collected money from donors to give to those would take up self-employment. Many who could, took steps in doing small jobs like selling fish, vegetables, fruits, homemade sweets, clothes by going house to house. They also tried cultivating vegetables, or growing chicken. Self-Employment programme was like a ray of hope during those hopeless and cloudy days of our workers’ lives. For many it has been the source of relief and support. Besides this, we could also teach them how to be self-reliant and it gives them a sense of selfworth and joy as they continue to take care of their dependents. Grassroots campaigning involves mobilizing domestic workers to create awareness about their rights and enhancing their leadership skills so that they emerge as leaders and gain confidence to advocate for their rights through capacity-building, training and campaigns using signatures, postcards and posters. Organizing public rallies, public meetings and public hearings are also used to
influence the government ministers, civil servants, local officials and politicians from the ruling and opposition political parties and other influential individual organizations. We influence them through face-to-face meetings and submitting memorandum with demands; inviting them for special events like Domestic Workers’ Day and Labour Day; sending signature- postcards signed by domestic workers; meeting and lobbying ministers and Labour department, registering them in the Union and giving ID cards as well registering them for social security. This lobbying goes on year after year. The Government is slow to respond and protect the rights of workers and the migrants in Goa. Furthermore, failure of the government to allocate a budget for the Welfare Board has created difficulties for the domestic workers to avail the social protection schemes on time. Domestic workers also report unfair dismissal when they ask for better wages and working conditions. Recently as part of legislative reforms of labour laws, the Centre has begun a process of codification and amalgamation of 44 Central labour laws into four codes in order to simplify them. The four codes pertain to labour, industrial relations, social security and welfare, and safety and working conditions, Elaborating on the simplification, the Minister said that, for instance, the labour code on wages is an amalgam of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976. All these codes have already been passed and the bill has become a Law. As part of the codes being developed for wages, the Centre might issue directions to the State
governments in respect of wage fixation — a power that now vests exclusively, with the States. But in all this, the code is only making the rich richer and the poor poorer. In many places we held demonstrations opposing the codes becoming the law. In Goa we held protests in various places in small groups of 15 and above in places like Calangute, Saligao , Moira, Porvorim. A bigger group of 68 workers demonstrated in South Goa : Madgao , Benaulim , Navelim, Dicarpali and Sirvordem. In all this type of struggle, the ICM sisters have been left alone, we hardly get support from religious group to come and voice the injustices done on the poor. Most often people are very good in doing charity and development work where results are seen by others. Such work as ours is only seen by God. I wish to take this opportunity to request, especially religious groups, to help us to register domestic and migrant workers in the surrounding areas or identify committed person/grassroots workers ( as part-timers) to work with us and we will pay them a reasonable remuneration. The writer is from Moira Bardez Goa. She is a religious sister of Missionary sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ( ICM ). She is the coordinator for Goa Domestic and Migrant Workers Forum appointed by the national Domestic workers Movement.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 13
Inside india
Issues of Labour and notions of development
Haibun is a Japanese form of prose poetry, that hinges upon conveying visual experiences into poetic storytelling. Haiku, also Japanese, is traditionally a visual poem all of three lines; the first and the third line has five syllables each while the middle line has seven syllables. BY Gauri Gharpure
T
he liberties given to modern poetry - and the popularity of recreating haibun and haiku in English - have relaxed the traditional forms and have also embraced a confessional element in addition to the requisite of creating sense forms of seasons, nature, or smell - on paper. These haibun deal with the issues of labour and notions of development. These short poetic stories culminate with a haiku. Death under construction The man hangs from the 14 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
under-construction high-rise, on a makeshift swing and grapples the rope without a helmet or a net to break a fatal fall. Sometimes, his teeth clench a rope for additional security, as he multitasks. A faint clatter of a complaint will swoop him down to his death but even in finality, he should be silent, grateful, his stomach must not grumble. There she sits on a heap of boulders, breathing dust, breastfeeding her infant. She resolutely chews roti softened with water, dal, and the heat of green chillies before she resumes breaking boulders. She looks up, and begins to strain her neck beyond the fourteenth floor. She strains, till she identifies the red dot that could be her husband. This week belongs to the red sling-shirt,
the one they had bought at the village fair last month. She admires the baby, nursing voraciously and proudly reaffirms its resemblance with her husband for the nth time. Her man has taught her to whistle to call him but the whistle works only till the fourteenth floor. She whistles anyway, knowing that
Inside india
someone else will push the message up and above to her husband. It is an innocent message of love. Are they even aware that they defy demise by the toss of a coin every day? Bees drown in syrup like men fall unsuspecting to their fatigued deaths. Homeless The streetlight doesn’t help much and the lane is still dim and dull. A stray dog howls near the old man but he sleeps undisturbed, even as flies keep buzzing on his face. Many thoughts flash in my mind: Was he dead? Was he drunk? Was he drunk and about to die? Was he sick? Was he simply asleep? I drive on and realize that I perhaps have more contacts to rescue dogs on the street, than the homeless old man exhausted in his sleep. Selective intent, Helpless against the quantum of need and sorrow. Development From time to time, I pause as I eat and take a moment to process the violence and hypocrisy of my existence. The chicken salami once was a chicken cackling on a conveyer belt and passing through tunnels and brushing with knives that killed it, skinned it, sliced it, and packed it, all in a matter of minutes. Development has debased human nature, chickens are not the only casualty. Desires
have become commodities. We talk only in terms of bulk, in terms of mass production, mass destruction. Just like chicken are pushed on the conveyer belt, sometimes I shudder as I imagine that the time is not far when humans are compartmentalized and optimized for results chosen by ‘others.’ The other day, there was news that the sky had turned orange in an important part of the world. I wonder if that will be the new normal a hundred years hence. Did you hear that coastlines are submerging and forests are on fire? That chunks of earth are probably readying their erasure from maps? Of course, you did. But, you still don’t believe it could be you, do you? Smokey buildings. Tangerine skies. Insatiable. Lunch The asphalt is steaming. The gigantic tamarind tree seems an anomaly in the city’s busy street but its branches spread over a large neighborhood almost possessively and without the least air of self-consciousness. A hand-pulled rickshaw rests under the tree, the narrow-double seat raked up in the air and the pulling shaft touching the ground. There are a number of food stalls on the street. The food is cheap and made on the go. But, even within cheap there are categories of cheap and the rickshawpuller earns just enough to afford the cheapest of the cheap offering. Actually, it would be factually incorrect to state that he earns just that much – the truth is that he must send a large chunk of his savings back to Bihar and ensure that his wife has enough to save for their daughter’s wedding. So, the rickshawpuller skimps on his lunch on alternate days. He proudly shares how he doesn’t have any vices either and
this adds to the savings. He asserts that he doesn’t have vices because he is a happy man. He doesn’t need anything to preoccupy himself with. “I just work hard.” Sultry afternoon. Puffed rice, potato gravy. Rickshaw puller’s lunch. The divide The glamour of high-rises mimics the glitter of a different philosophy. The notion of wealth prompts disguise and the unceremonious betrayal of what was once the essence of contentment and subtlety. Money is blatantly made and loudly displayed. The divide was never wider or more worrisome. Looking up, on lit windows, potted plants, and swings in balconies, I recognize the pride of the families that own a prestigious address. I too have a good home but bare dusty feet playing beside makeshift fires on the road along the brave queen’s statue make me feel guilty momentarily. I do nothing about the guilt, really, than returning home when I want to and shutting away all that I have seen with the excuse of my own suffering. I am conflicted between the glimpses of high-rises and sight of a man cycling home late at night after buying half a foil of a painkiller because that is only what he can afford. I feel inept. Perhaps, I am full of excuses. My words fall flat on paper and settle there, gathering dust. Who will heed the hungry? The one who speaks from the heart? Coal on one scale and gold on the other. Same souls living different lives.
The writer studied journalism at Columbia University, New York, on a Fulbright grant. She has recently published a collection of poems called Everything in Between with Writers Workshop India. The above haibun are from her upcoming poetry collection.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 15
global gaze
All work and no p(l)ay: Diary of a working housewife!
BY Dr. Glenis Maria Mendonca
This is fictitious personal diary of a ubiquitous week in January 2021. In an attempt to create awareness about working housewives, who work in the office for half a day and the other half, slog in their homes; this diary will hopefully ignite gender-sensitivity among working spouses with children.
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et me start with the weekend… Sunday 24th January: Wake up at 6 am to attend Sunday Mass in Church. Well, it has to be pre-booked using the YouChurch app! But, for the others, it is a ‘Sunday’, a fun day. So, the man and children can catch up with sleep. After mass, it is a scramble in the kitchen to cook meals for all. There is the usual weekend laundry, sweeping and swabbing, ironing and then ensuring that everything is provided for the family. The day passes off with hardly any TV, but more work and then the extension of office hangovers. Monday 25th January: Wake up at 5.30 am to prepare breakfast, lunch and pack tiffin boxes for 16 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
Hurray! It is a holiday! But not for me. I may not have to go to office, but I still work from home over my laptop. self as well as others. It is a mad scramble…prepare khana… rush to work. The kids and ‘his royal highness’ wake up by 6.00 - 6.15 am. I wish I could have someone give me a day off in the kitchen! Alas! This is my life! Office is yet another rut of a work routine. There are men and women who work alongside. But
all the lunchboxes are prepared by the women. And the men who eat out in the canteen are bachelors and widowers. If they accidentally carry something in their lunch boxes, it is prepared by their mothers and sisters. Looking forward for tomorrow’s Republic Day holiday. Tuesday 26th January: Hurray! It is a holiday! But not for me. I may not have to go to office, but I still work from home over my laptop. All I save is a little traveltime. Children have to go for their flag hoisting ceremony, and I have to hoist my kitchen apron to work happily in this kitchen and ensure that all their smiles are intact. My joy is to get a word of appreciation, but that is very rare. A goalkeeper is never remembered for the goals he saved, but cursed for the ones he missed. I am never appreciated
global gaze
I woke up late today. That was indeed criminal! I am not supposed to upset the routine. for the yum goodies I make, but severely satirized for the lack of taste in one specific preparation. Phew! I can empathize with the goalkeeper! Wednesday 27th January: “Mum, polish my shoes….oh, please pack my tiffin…can you iron this shirt…I don’t like dosas, I am not a South Indian! I am scrambling from kitchen to corner. I can neither establish myself at the hearth or my family’s heart! Multitasking, I thought was getting to be exciting…not anymore! I may break down without any help! He sits there on the rocking chair reading the newspaper, enjoying the cup of coffee I have made for him. He can see me scrambling, but no…it is a mortal sin to help around! Thursday 28th January: I have an office meeting today. I will have to dress well, a little more formal. So, I need to iron and groom well. One of the kids has an online class which starts at 8.00am. Wakey… wakey! Rise and shine! Breakfast is ready. “I have to re-charge the net pack”. “Can you help with my assignment in History!” “I need some money to buy project paper and pens.” I am whirling, with voices resounding in all directions. Why should you bother only mum and dad gets disturbed, if you decide to tell him so! Both are office-goers. But mum has to work at home as well! Friday 29th January: I woke up late today. That was indeed criminal! I am not supposed to
upset the routine. I have to be punctual at everything. Mums and wives are deemed to be impeccable and faultless. It is ironic that those who wake up late find my accidental ‘late-wake-up’ as wrong! Why??? I have allowed this cultural sweep… this is an old habit to pamper everybody. My housework is not at all appreciated. It is unpaid. If I was a servant, I would be better appreciated. At least my month-end pay would give me gratification. But not here. This is a thankless job! I am emotionally hurt and feel ruthlessly exploited. The schedule is upset. I wake up late. So, I am held responsible for everyone’s delay to reach their respective schools/office. Friday 29th January: There is an important event at my office. I have to make sure all the preparations are done. I have to carry my files and see that things are kept ready for the event. But the home duties reverberate ferociously. Mama this…mama that…I have begun to lose it all, STOP ‘mamafying’ me around. I can hear myself yell! All is silent. There is a calm after a storm. But that lasts momentarily. “Can you come early after office to pick me up from school. I cannot
walk home you see. The heat is killing and I feel giddy”. “Why can’t your dad help you! His office is close by.” “He will never agree. It is better that I walk back…sigh!” Saturday 30th January: I had a dream last night. My daughter smiled and said “Thank-you mama….you are so kind!” Well, this was only a dream. I woke up with the alarm gong. Such a beautiful dream. Back to the grind! Mum is the kitchen queen. At office I have to forget my home and be my best. Back home in the evening, I have to forget office and be a house wife. The cycle continues… So, you see, I am a tight rope walker, doing the balancing act; walking dual paths. And, I am expected to walk well.
The writer is an Assistant Professor at the English Department of Carmel College, Goa. In 2017, she successfully defended her PhD thesis, Konkani Fiction in English Translation: A Critical Study. Besides bringing Konkani fiction to an English readership through translation works, she is passionate about music, and is a member of the troupe Goenchim Kirnaam, performing often at mando festivals.
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COVER FEATURE
Courtesy: www.freedesignfile.com
18 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
COVER FEATURE
Celebrating the dedication, struggles and commitment of the working class BY Dr. Madhavi Kamat
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It is said that the health of any country’s economy depends on its work force. The role of any labourer in any country cannot be taken for granted. What leads a country towards prosperity is its labour force. More hard-working, creative, alert, healthy and happy labour can contribute much to the country’s economy. Without labour nothing prospers.
he 1st of May is celebrated as International Labour Day in several countries, to commemorate the labour movement which ushered in various references such as paid leaves, 8-hour work day etc. The beginning of the 19th century saw the advent of the Industrialisation. The industrialists started exploiting the labour force and made them work for 15 or more hours per day; the workers revolted. The labour movement advocated 8 hrs at work, 8 hrs for recreation and 8 hrs for rest. Labour Day celebrates the achievement of these workers. In India, May Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1923, after the Labour Kisan party of Hindustan initiated it and comrade Singaravelar helmed the celebrations. In two meetings-one at the Triplicane beach and second at the beach opposite madras high court-the comrade, known for being one of the leaders of Self Respect movement in the Madras Presidency and for his fight for the rights of backward classes, he passed a resolution stating that the government should declare a National holiday on Labour Day.
I was surprised when she told me that she had bought a 2-bedroom flat in a good colony. It is said that the health of any country’s economy depends on its work force. The role of any labourer in any country cannot be taken for granted. What leads a country towards prosperity is its labour force. More hard-working, creative, alert, healthy and happy labour can contribute much to the country’s economy. Without labour nothing prospers. Among the labour force, lie some stories which are stories of accomplishment and inspiration. This Labour Day would be the right day to commemorate these stories of sheer hard work and persistence. These stories happen around us all the time; we only have to find them. This anecdote highlights the struggles of an uneducated lady, to struggle to uplift her family from poverty to a middle-class status. I met Mumtaz some 15 years
ago, when I moved to a nearby locality. She came to ask whether I needed a maid to work in the house; I hired her immediately. As women we like to talk, to share our stories. Mumtaz’s story was no different from many others in her strata. Married at a young age to a drunk, abusive husband, she had 3 children and adopted her dead sister’s daughter too. Life definitely was a struggle. In order to make ends meet, Mumtaz worked in every new bungalow or flat that was built in the vicinity. It surprised me how this woman can do so much manual work; eight hours’ schedule be damned. As the years passed, her children grew up. One day Mumtaz hesitantly asked me if she could borrow some money, the reason being her son wanted to ply a small tempo of his own. She borrowed some from the bank and soon she became the owner of an automobile. One tempo led to another, Mumtaz took a few more jobs, took her daughters along to meet the growing demands of her work. After some years, she came to invite me for her house- warming party. I was surprised when she told me that she had bought a 2-bedroom flat in a good colony. Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 19
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That day, as I entered her flat, I felt proud that Mumtaz had truly arrived. She still works at more than 15 houses to clear the bank loan. Her sons work today to lend her a helping hand; one sells vegetables and plies his rickshaw, the other works as an accountant in a reputed hospital. The lesson that one takes from this story is one of indomitable will and her resolute nature, which has freed her and her future generations from the shackles of poverty The second inspirational story is of Mr. Pandurang Kerkar. Pandu, as we called him in our childhood, was one of three sons of our maid; he was the youngest and the mother’s pet. He would help his widowed mother in doing all her sundry work. The same helpful nature of his made the people of the neighbourhood go to him for any help. He worked as a salesman in our cloth shop and my grandfather, the Late Shri Santu Atchut Bharne (an educationist) noticed that this young, smiling, hardworking boy was very smart and intelligent. He encouraged him to educate himself; Pandu enrolled in a night school in the city and continued 20 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
his education. Soon he cleared his inter examination and answered a bank exam and was selected for the peon’s job. Pandu endeared himself to colleges and bank clients with his modesty and hardworking nature and was duly promoted in due course of time to a clerical post. While working at the bank, he realised that the people like him did not have a bank account. He would visit the market and force the vegetable vendors, fish vendors and small stall owners to open recurring deposits schemes with as little as Rs 20. He helped many such poor families to pay for their children’s education, marriage, medical bills through the amount accumulated. In the 80s and the early 90s it was a blessing for those people. All this while, Pandu’s lifestyle had not changed. He still helped his neighbours in their sundry work and accepted whatever they gave him in return. When asked: “What is the need to do this?” he would say “Work is worship. If I can be of some use to the society around me, I consider it as a blessing”. The third story is one of sheer tenacity and the highest level of
perseverance that I have come across. Last week my mother phoned me to say that she was having a few guests over and she was excited to have them. The guest of honour was a septuagenarian gentleman aged 79 years, named Nana Shinde. When probed further, she told me his story of hard labour, tenacity and steadfastness. Nana came to work in my mother’s home as a 15-year-old boy. He was from the Konkan region where there was poverty all around. He worked as a GHAR GADI in the Mumbai houses. He was only a 4th standard Marathi medium boy who had dreams of becoming a peon one day. He stayed under the building’s staircase, of the building in which he worked. Everybody in the building was impressed with his hard work and gentle nature. A few years later a well-placed person from the building, employed him in his company as a sweeper boy. Nana did join there but he wanted to become a peon. The minimum qualification needed was 10th Standard and so started his educational journey to complete his education. He joined a night school where he burnt the night lamp to
COVER FEATURE
It is their aspiration, hard work, diligence, and earnestness which catapulted them to their success. study. Meanwhile life continued, he was married, had 5 children, he was promoted to become a peon because of his experience and sincerity though he did not have the desired qualification. He worked sincerely in the company and though he had achieved his dream of becoming a peon, he did not give up on his goal of finishing 10th standard. He finally completed his SSC in the same year, as his first grandchild was born. If this is not diligence, hard work and perseverance - then what is it? He worked in his company till the age of 60 and retired as marketing manager and was reemployed for another 15 years in the same company. He fulfilled all his responsibilities but when asked about his proudest moments, he says it was in the year 2018 when his grandson working as an engineer in Singapore took the entire family of 25-30 people in an aircraft to Singapore, for a 15-day holiday. This is how a phoenix rises from its ashes. All these stories are of ordinary folks, who are unnoticed around us in the society. They are around us, fighting their own battles of survival. They are not awarded or rewarded, they do not make it to any book or have write-ups but are immensely inspirational. It is their aspiration, hard work, diligence, and earnestness which catapulted them to their success. I would also like to highlight
a few known stories of Indians who not only turned their lives but also the lives of other people by providing job opportunities to others. When Dharampal Gulati passed away this year the whole of India mourned his death. The new generation will know him as the face of MDH masala but to the old guard, he is a man who left behind his life in Pakistan and rode a Tonga in Delhi to earn a living. He started by selling masalas in the Delhi market and soon became the owner of MDH masala, today having a turnover of over of Rs 500 crores. Ashok Khande’s father worked as a cobbler in Mumbai; one of six siblings in a family leading a hand- to-mouth existence, Ashok often went to sleep without a meal. From social discrimination to lack of opportunities, his family faced discrimination each step of the way. Against all odds, he completed his education and worked at a government-run shipyard. After learning the tricks of the trade, he started his own company, DSA offshore, which today employs over 4000 people. Babu Rao’s story is equally interesting. His life was one of much struggle. He slept on the railway platform and took up a few small jobs and finally landed in
a café, where he worked with the sole purpose of getting two square meals. He started as a cleaner, was soon promoted as a waiter and gained enough trust of the owners to be given the responsibility of preparing chai. By the late seventies, he signed an agreement with the owners to run the cafe by paying them a fixed amount. However, he earned enough to acquire the cafe. Today, Cafe Niloufer is a name to reckon with. In 2010, Rani Rampal was just a teenager, when she made it to the Indian Hockey Team. Eight years later, she was leading the brigade of 16 players as Team Captain for the World Cup in London. At the age of 23, she is already a veteran, having scored 134 goals in 212 international appearances. For someone whose father worked as a cart puller, Rani’s journey is an inspiration for millions across the country. This Labour Day, let these stories of grit and gumption inspire us to brave all odds - to dream and achieve big. The writer is the founder and the Principal of the school, ‘The Little Penguins’. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Goa University. Her thesis Hermeneutics in Philosophy of Science is used as a course guide for students of Goa University. She is a recipient of numerous awards and accolades
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Mission musings
A Nonagenarian with an indomitable Spirit Interview with Fr. Valente Azavedo, SFX
My parents were very devout and wanted us to be in the house for evening Angelus, Rosary and other daily prayers.
BY Br. Clive Dias
F
r. Valente George Azavedo hails from Piedade, DivarGoa. He was born on 21st of May, 1931. He joined the Seminary in 1954 and was ordained on April 12, 1964 by Mons. Piedade Rebelo. After having worked for 50 years in different posts, he was appointed Coordinator of the Office of Ven. Agnelo at Pilar in 2008. Who influenced you to become a priest and in the Society of Pilar? My parents were very devout and wanted us to be in the house for evening Angelus, Rosary and other daily prayers. We never missed our daily prayers. I was in Bombay after SSC and studied shorthand and typing. After my 22 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
mother’s death in 1963, I decided to join the Jesuits and become priest. I approached Fr. Napoleao Silveira from Divar who was in Victoria church in Bombay. I went to meet him and told him that I want to join the Jesuits. He took me to Vinalaya, Jesuits Novitiate. There was only a Lay Brother. He told us to come on some other day. On our way back Fr. Napoleao told me to go to Goa and join the Pilar Society. I came to Goa and went to Pilar, where I met an elderly priest, Fr. Manuel J. Barreto, who took me to meet the Superior, Fr. Assumption de Souza. The Superior was very kind, received me nicely and ask me to come on June 20, 1964. Tell us about your life in the Pilar Seminary. On June 20, 1954, I joined Pilar Seminary. It was the day of the opening of the Seminary Scholastic year. Archbishop Dom Jose Alvernaz was presiding. At the
entrance I met George Nazareth who took me to the Rector, Fr. Jeronimo Pereira. Along with me, another companion, Lulu Menezes also joined the Pilar Seminary. Fr Lulu worked in the Bhopal Diocese. I was the first Seminarian from Piedade, Divar to join the Pilar Society. During my philosophy year, Fr. Sergio Mascarenhas and I started the Centre of Propaganda of Good literature. We used to bring books from Portugal, Brazil etc and were printing leaflets in Devanagri about Catholic Faith and distributing them to non-Catholics. Fr. Jeronimo Pereira put me in charge of getting books for the Seminary from England, Spain and religious books from Italy. I had this responsibility till 1963. Your first appointments after Ordination in 1964. My first appointments were for one year each. In 1964-65 as a moderator of Minor Seminary, in
Mission musings 1966–67 for the Major Seminary and in 1966-67 I was appointed as a procurator of the Major Seminary. Why did you ask your Superiors to send you to the Missions? After three years in the Seminary, I told my Superiors that I wanted to go to the Missions; to send me anywhere. Superiors wanted me to remain in the Seminary. I insisted that I want to go to mission and that is why I joined the Pilar Society. So, in 1967 I was appointed Parish Priest of Nani Daman. Fr. Wellington was acting Parish Priest. Only the church and the cemetery stands in the Fort of Nani Daman. Can you share your experience in Nani Daman? I arrived in Daman on June 23, 1973. It was raining very heavily. Very few people used to come for daily Mass. The Sacristan, after closing the church as well as after ringing bells at 12 noon and at 6.30 P.M. used to come and say: “Senor Padre”, indicating that if I needed something, he was ready to do so” and then used to go home. During the day, I used to be alone in the Rectory. Life was difficult, for I had to do everything by myself - even hand pump water from the well, which was outside the Rectory. I took the challenge and carried out my plans. First, I started giving tuition to school children and taught them shorthand. I visited every family, met each and every member, to study their daily life and difficulties. I prepared children groups and put the older ones to guide the younger ones and taught them to manage their groups for conducting prayers, how to attend Mass and help each other, etc. Children had only one playground in front of the church and rectory. Especially boys from fisher folk families used to come at any time of the day to play. I had good relations with these
Be faithful to your vocation. It is not that you want to become a priest, but it is God Himself who is calling you to follow in the footsteps of His Son Jesus. boys; whenever we had religious services, I told them not to play and they used to oblige. Others were busy with smugglings. The Sunday collection was Rs. 8 – 10. The church had no fund. The church and rectory was leaking for it had small tiles, where crows hid Bombay ducks and then removed the tiles. During my second year, I renovated the roof of the church with Mangalore tiles. Then, decided to build a hall above the rectory to garner funds for the church through hire. We had committees to arrange funds. After collecting some money from people and even from non-Catholics, we put the slab for the hall. During the construction, I was sleeping almost in the open, near the Church bell. Three times I was robbed. When you came back to Pilar? In 1973, Fr. Jose Menezes who was a great Missionary in Khanwel was appointed the Superior General of the Society. Fr. Superior asked me to come back to Pilar. I told Fr. Superior that I want to be a missionary and be in the Mission, but Fr. Superior insisted that they need me. So, I had to return to Pilar. In 1973, I was appointed General Treasurer of the Society. I held this position for 14 years, from 1973 – 87. During these years we were very busy.
In 1987, I was appointed Local Superior in the Pilar Monastery and was there for 7 years and CDS for almost 10 years. Three times, I visited USA for Summer Substitution. From 2003 – 2007, I was assistant to the Parish Priest and celebrated Holy Mass in Portuguese, English and Spanish for Spanish people. In 2008, after returning from USA, I was appointed as Coordinator of the Office of Ven. Agnelo. I am the only surviving member of our group – all the rest: Fr. Joseph Albuquerque, Fr. Jeronimo Pereira. Fr. Orlando Rodrigues, Fr. Assumption de Souza, Fr. Francis Diniz, Fr. Sebastiao Rodrigues and Fr. Valente Azavedo (who signed the documents of the Registration of our Society under Society Act in Goa), left for their heavenly abode. When I was the General Treasurer, our Society was registered as a Charitable Society in Bangalore, exempt from Tax. What advice would you like to give to a young man who is contemplating a vocation to the priesthood. Be faithful to your vocation. It is not that you want to become a priest, but it is God Himself who is calling you to follow in the footsteps of His Son Jesus. To be faithful to your vocation, you must be a man of prayer. The first duty of a priest is prayer life. The devotion for the Blessed Sacrament is a must for a priest, he has to spend some time daily, before the Blessed Sacrament - Jesus waits for us. Also, devotion to Mother Mary who is the Protector of Priests. If you want to be a good and successful missionary: BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR PRAYER LIFE.
The writer is doing his regency at St. John the Baptist Church, Benaulim.
Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021 | 23
Mission musings
Lay-missionaries: Apostles of Christ’s Presence in the Frontier-missions (IV)
BY Dr. Fr. Francis Carvalho, sfx
Their Apostolate is exercised when they work at the evangelization and sanctification of men; it is exercised too, when they endeavour to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve the temporal world order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness of Christ and helps forward the salvation of men.
Introduction In the previous write-up, I had expounded the theme of ‘laymissionaries walking their faith in their new-found lands or frontiermissions’. This walking of one’s faith, I have described as the ‘apostolate of presence’ proper to laymissionaries. In this note, I want to expand on this theme further. Apostolate of Presence: 24 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
Apostolate Proper to Laymissionaries The theme of ‘apostolate of presence’ may sound like a neologism to those who are familiar with the traditional missionary activities, that are associated mostly with the apostolate of ‘doing things’ – based on the public ministry of Jesus, which could be summed in Jesus’ own words to the disciples of John the Baptist (who wanted to know whether Jesus was the expected one): ‘Go and tell John what you
have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them’ (Lk. 17:22). The above description of Jesus’ public ministry may be taken as the summary of Jesus’ public ministry of about three years. However, this summary eclipses about thirty years of Jesus’ hidden life in Nazareth – that is, as an infant, as a child and as a young carpenter in Nazareth. In reality, the missionary activity
Mission musings of Jesus – as the first missionary of God the Father on earth – had already begun from his mother’s womb itself. For example, when his mother carried him to Elizabeth’s house, the child in Elizabeth’s womb ‘leapt for joy’ (cf. Lk. 1:44). Later when the angels announced to shepherds about the birth of Jesus – as their Messiah – lying in the manger at Bethlehem, the shepherds went there and found ‘Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger’ (cf. Lk. 2: 16), and still later when the Magi from the East came to see Jesus as the child ‘who is born king of the Jews’ to whom they offered ‘gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh’ (cf. Mt. 2:2,11). Subsequent to the above incidents from Jesus’ infancy narrative, Jesus had worked as a carpenter at Nazareth circa twentyodd years before he set out on his public ministry of ‘doing good’. Strangely, this twenty-odd year missionary life of Jesus is not found recorded in the Gospel. Probable reason for this, as some Biblical scholars say, could be the so-called Messianic secret that required keeping secret the divinity of Jesus till ‘his hour’ was made manifest – as Jesus himself told his mother at the wedding at Cana: ‘my hour has not yet come’ (Jn. 2: 4). Some scholars, however, explain this enigma with what they describe as the basic need that required Jesus to grow/mature in his human nature so as to make it fit and an apt medium of revealing fully, his divine nature. Jesus’ hidden life of twentyodd years could be described as a process of simultaneous blossoming of Jesus’ divine nature and human nature, that required for him to grow both as a fully divine and fully human person – somewhat similar to what happens to the bamboos as they take considerable time to grow
The primary apostolate or the vocation and mission of laypeople or laymissionaries, therefore, is to act like a leaven. under-ground before they acquire a towering height over-ground. Jesus’ Hidden Life: Like a Leaven in His Human Nature The above process of maturity could be explained in the light of the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council found in its Constitution on the Church (Lumen gentium), on the analogy of the mystery of the Incarnate Word: “As the assumed nature, inseparably united to him, serves the divine Word as a living organ of salvation, so, in a somewhat similar way, does the social structure of the Church serve the Spirit of Christ who vivifies it, in the building up of the body” (LG 8a). Applying the above doctrine to our issue, I would use the metaphor of ‘leaven’ to Jesus’ divine nature, with which he assumed the human nature from the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary, and transformed it as an organ of salvation of the world. In somewhat similar manner, the social structure of a human person serves the Spirit of Christ, who vivifies and transforms it, in the building up of the Church, the Body of Christ. Such a human person, therefore, becomes the bearer of the ‘leaven’ of Jesus’ divinity, which transforms him/ her into an organ of salvation in the world. Apostolate of the Laity: Like a Leaven in the World
In view of applying the above doctrine and exposition to the apostolate of the laypersons in the Church, the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) has expanded this doctrine in its Decree on the Apostolate of the Laypeople (Apostolicam Acctuositatem) as follows: Their Apostolate is exercised when they work at the evangelization and sanctification of men; it is exercised too, when they endeavour to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve the temporal world order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness of Christ and helps forward the salvation of men. The characteristic of the lay state being a life led in the midst of the world and secular affairs, lay men [people] are called by God to make of their apostolate, through the vigour of their Christian spirit, a leaven in the world (AA, 2b). The primary apostolate or the vocation and mission of laypeople or lay-missionaries, therefore, is to act like a leaven, ‘hidden’ in the laymissionaries so as (a) to make Jesus Christ present in and through them in the world they live; and (b) to bear witness to his Gospel, by their way of life. Conclusion By way of conclusion, it could be said that even as the above doctrine was promulgated only in 1965, lay people or lay-missionaries have lived out this doctrine from the very inception of the Church – in the form of apostolate of presence, which remained unrecorded, like Jesus’ hidden life. More on this issue will be expounded in the next instalment. (To be continued).
The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He has a Doctorate in Canon Law and is a visiting professor at Pilar Theological College, Goa.
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SPIRITUALITY
Courtesy: www. poweredtoempower.com
Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus
The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope, a hope that we too will rise from the dead and live in eternity; a hope that our sins will be forgiven, through the merits of the mercy of our Lord, when we come to Him in true repentance BY DR. NELLY DE SA
“He has been raised from the dead.” (Mathew 28:7). And that is why we celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus. Very often, we receive the Easter greeting, “He is risen! Happy Easter!” And very often, we see the celebration of Easter centred around Easter eggs, Easter bunnies and feasting on food and drinks that might have been restricted during the season of Lent. For some, Easter could be a day of looking forward to eating meats, drinking wine and breaking fasts. But for others, it could be rejoicing in the joy of having a 26 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
resurrected living God. After going through a year of crisis, a year that should have brought us to ponder and reflect upon areas where we needed to be transformed, a year that should have taught us several lessons that we needed to learn, are we still going to be dead to our transgressions and our iniquities, or do we need to rise above our old selves and celebrate the true meaning of Resurrection? The Resurrection of Jesus gives us hope, a hope that we too will rise from the dead and live in eternity; a hope that our sins will be forgiven, through the merits of the mercy of our Lord, when we come to Him in true repentance; a hope that we find in the words of Jesus spoken to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither
do I condemn you, go your way and from now on, do not sin again.” (John 8:11). At every celebration, every festivity and in all that we do, do we focus on the meaning and purpose of the event? Sadly, many times, we are lost in the worldly aspects and forget the true meaning and purpose behind the need of the celebration. When we celebrate birthdays, many times we focus on frivolous details, but fail to go to church or to thank God for the gift of life and for the years we have spent and experienced blessings from God. And even though we celebrate our birthdays, we do forget to celebrate our Baptism day, the day we were freed from original sin, cleansed and
SPIRITUALITY
Easter is about believing and celebrating the truth of the resurrection of Christ. It is about increasing our faith and belief in God and in His word. It is about cleansing our soul and preparing ourselves for eternity, so that we become the righteous who will be raised from the dead and live along with Christ. united with Christ. Due to our human weakness, we continue to fall into sin. And Christ did not die for His sins, but for the sins of men; hence, we must first acknowledge that we are sinners, and that it was our sins that He bore on the cross. The greatest problem we face, is not the failure in accepting the resurrection of Christ and the fact that He lives today, but the fact that we fail to realise that we are helplessly dead in our sins and need to make the resurrection of Christ a vitally needed truth. St Paul explains it beautifully in his letter to the Ephesians. (Ephesians 2:1-10). Through the Apostles Creed, the profession of our faith in God and in God’s creative, saving and sanctifying action, culminates in the proclamation of the resurrection of the dead on the last day and in life everlasting. We firmly believe, that just as Christ is truly risen from the dead and lives for ever, so also, after death the righteous will live for ever with the risen Christ and He will raise them up on the last day. Our Resurrection, like his own, will be the work of the Most Holy Trinity. “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his spirit who
dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11). The term, “flesh” refers to man in his state of weakness and mortality. The “resurrection of the flesh” (the literal formulation of the Apostles’ Creed) means not only that the immortal soul will live on after death, but even our “mortal body” will come to life again. Belief in the resurrection of the dead has been an essential element of the Christian faith from its beginning. The confidence of Christians is the resurrection of the dead, believing this we live. (CCC 991) Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. (John 11.25). So how are we going to celebrate Easter this year? Easter is about believing and celebrating the truth of the resurrection of Christ. It is about increasing our faith and belief in God and in His word. It is about cleansing our soul and preparing ourselves for eternity, so that we become the righteous who will be raised from the dead and live along with Christ. It is about believing that Christ lives even today. We experience Him in the Sacraments we celebrate; we experience Him in the poor and the needy; we can feel His presence within us - only if we prepare ourselves to receive Him in our hearts and only if we make the time to listen to His voice.
Christ’s Resurrection and the risen Christ Himself is the principal and source of our future resurrection. The risen Christ lives in the hearts of His faithful while they await that fulfilment. (CCC 655). We are in need of that much desired change in our thoughts, beliefs and actions. We are in need of that way of life that leads us to true repentance and righteousness. In the midst of the ongoing fight against the pandemic, we are blessed to have our Churches open and the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist available to us. There can be no substitute to these Sacraments which were instituted by Christ Himself. Let us make good use of this opportunity to live a gracefilled life, a life that is swept up by Christ into the heart of divine life, so that we may no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for our sake and was raised. Let us celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord in a way that would be pleasing to Him. Wishing you all a blessed, peace-filled Easter! She is a consultant Pediatrician, Santa Cruz-Goa.
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SPIRITUALITY
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Model for us
With his apostolic letter titled “Patris corde” (Heart of the Father), Pope Francis marks the 150th Year of the declaration of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church by the blessed Pope Pius IX. (8 Dec. 1870). BY Dr. Fr. Savio Vaz SAC
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o celebrate the 150th anniversary with the universal Church, Pope Francis has proclaimed a special Year of St. Joseph (8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021). He explains the aim of this special year: “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.” The Pontiff is a great devotee and admirer of the spirituality of St. Joseph. His human and religious 28 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
biography is closely linked from the outset to St. Joseph. Over the years, Pope Francis made the living experience of not wandering through life alone, but being always accompanied by St. Joseph - a good guide, a silent but attentive protector. Even to this day, the Pope has two statues of the dear Saint in his meagre apartment. One statue is particularly dear to him- it is the Statue of St. Joseph sleeping. We may ask ourselves, why a sleeping St. Joseph`s Statue? The pope himself gave an explanation to the families gathered in the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila on January 16, 2015: “… And when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a
piece of paper and put it under St. Joseph, because he dreams about it! This gesture means: pray for this problem!“ St. Joseph received the messages of God in sleep. Under pandemic circumstances of our time, St. Joseph receives his due recognition and acknowledgement. The Pontiff highlights the many hidden and unnoticed vital services and duties of people, who make sacrifices and adjustments in order to face the crisis. They are all real heroes, they perform simple acts and duties but with a great heart. St. Joseph is the best example for representing the numerous unseen services. “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man
SPIRITUALITY
Just like St. Joseph, we have to live our calling. He let himself be guided by the Spirit of God in everything he did. who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation.” The pandemic has made us also aware of the value of a concealed spirituality. It is not the activities we accomplish outside and openly, but the many duties and services, which we do every day hidden from the limelight. It is time for introspection, rediscovering one´s own person, his mission and sharing his life and work with God, who sees everything. Just like St. Joseph, we have to live our calling. He let himself be guided by the Spirit of God in everything he did. God has a Father´s Heart In her famous autobiography The Story of a Soul”, St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) discloses about the core of her spirituality, which is the primacy of love or living the love, which is God himself. She writes: “But what I demand is love. I care now about one thing only – to love You, my Jesus! Great deeds are forbidden me, I cannot preach the Gospel nor shed my blood – but what does it matter? My brothers toil instead of me and I, a little child, well, I keep close by the throne of God and I love for those who fight. Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Well, I will scatter flowers,
perfuming the Divine throne with their fragrance, and I’ll sweetly sing my hymn of love. Yes, my Beloved, that is how I will spend my short life. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love. I wish both to suffer and to find joy through love.” How does she come to this profound spiritual insight? Therese´s parents led a holy and faithful life (Louis and Zelie Martin are the first husband and wife to achieve sainthood). They created an environment of faith and love at home, which nurtured the vocations of their daughters. Her parents taught Therese about the true treasures and riches in life. In her family, she experienced the love and care. God is much greater than an earthly family or father. He takes care of the simple and the weak, who entrust themselves to Him. God has a Father´s Heart. Humility and littleness are foundational to the Spirituality of little Therese. Through the little deeds, her littleness and weakness, she can serve Jesus her Master. In 1 Cor 13, where St. Paul writes about the three theological virtues, Faith, Hope and Love and accentuates the primacy of Love, she comes to the insight that the humble and routine
acts done with love are the ones, which are most pleasing to God. She writes, “Charity gave me the key to my vocation. My vocation is love! I will be love…. I remember that the smallest act of love is more…than every other work put together….The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least of actions for love.” The spirituality of the little way may appear unheroic and mundane, but has great potentials for growth in holiness. It should not be misunderstood or reduced to simple piety or childish faith. She was not naïve; she bears the highest title as a doctor of the Church. She had profound experience and insights in the mysteries of our Faith. Just like St. Joseph, who surrendered himself completely to the Will of God, so also is the life and spirituality of St. Therese, a way of trust and absolute surrender to God. She would say, “Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender.” The writer is a pallottine priest from Agacaim, Goa. He has completed his doctorate and post-doctorate in Moral Theology in Bonn and Freiburg in Germany. Since 2012 he has been teaching at the State-acknowledged philosophical and Theological Seminary, Vallendar, Germany.
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SPIRITUALITY
St. Agnes of Montepulciano
Courtesy: www. www.catholicnewsagency.com
In 1288 Agnes, despite her youth at only 20 years of age, was noted for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and deep life of prayer, and was elected as the Abbess of the community. BY Scholastic Shailesh Jadhav, SFX
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gnes was born in 1268 into the noble Segni family in Graciano, a frazione of Montepulciano, then part of the Papal States. At the age of nine, she convinced her parents to allow her to enter a Franciscan monastery of women in the city known as the “Sisters of the Sack”, after the rough religious habit they wore. They lived a simple, contemplative life. In 1288 Agnes, despite her youth at only 20 years of age, was noted for her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and deep life of prayer, and was elected as the Abbess of the community. There she gained a reputation for performing miracles; people suffering from mental and physical ailments
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seemed cured by her presence. She was reported to have “multiplied loaves”, creating many from a few on numerous occasions, recalling the Gospel miracle of the loaves and fishes. She herself, however, suffered severe bouts of illness, which lasted long periods of time. In 1306, Agnes was recalled to head the monastery in Montepulciano. Agnes reached a high degree of contemplative prayer and is said to have been favored with many visions. She also had a vision of Dominic Guzman, under the inspiration of which she led the nuns of her monastery to embrace the Rule of St. Augustine, as members of the Dominican Order. She was frequently called upon to bring peace to the warring families of the city. By 1316, Agnes’ health failed to such a degree, that she had to be carried back to the monastery on a stretcher. St. Agnes was like any other
ordinary girl. She grew up in great love of Jesus and Mother Mary. Due to this, she was able to perform many miracles that Jesus himself performed in His lifetime in order to increase people’s faith. She was able to bring peace in the lives of the disturbed faithful and nonfaithful. Thus, she was able to build the Church of Christ, here and now. Agnes died the following 20th April, at the age of 49. When her body was moved years after her death to the monastery church, it was found to be incorrupt. Agnes was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. Her feast day is celebrated within the Dominican Order on 20th April.
He is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is a student of First Year Theology, Pilar Theological College, Pilar-Goa
SPIRITUALITY
Work is Divine Courtesy: www. cmmb.org
by Fr. Santosh Mendonca, SFX
Lectio (2 Thes. 5,11-12): St. Paul’s teaching on work as stated in our passage for reflection typifies Christ’s teaching that all who belong to the Lord should take on the attitude of working to sustain oneself and continue his family’s and society’s survival. Paul’s thoughtful warning that anyone who refuses to do work should be refused food (2 Thes 3,10) stands as a teaching against idleness and dependency. The spirit of hard work is what Paul wants to see among all the followers of Christ, which he so overtly states in his letter to the Colossians 3,23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not man. Remember that the Lord will give you as reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real master that you serve.” In this sense, work is not an imposition on account sin (Gen 3,16.19) but rather a part of our human dignity, “God places [Man] in the garden. There he lives “to till it and keep it.” Work is not yet a burden, but rather the collaboration of man and woman with God in perfecting the visible creation (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 378).” Therefore, human work proceeds from our dignity as collaborators with God in
Paul’s thoughtful warning that anyone who refuses to do work should be refused food stands as a teaching against idleness and dependency.
Work is God given. It is for us a means for survival, and done to obey God. perfecting and completing the work of creation. Everyone can work and should do so in the ways possible for him or her, not merely out of a sense of duty but also because it is the essence of his/her dignity. Meditatio: Work is God given. It is for us a means for survival, and done to obey God. Therefore, work is divine. Work in all forms whether manual, intellectual, business or otherwise, is a better means for sustenance and contribution towards the building up of a nation. Accordingly, we are behoved to work not only to benefit ourselves but also to contribute to the good of others and society in general. We do this first by caring for our own needs to the extent possible, thus not burdening others unnecessarily. We also contribute to the common good by employing our talents and work in such a way as to contribute to the overall availability of goods and services
in the community. We engage our human talent and the fruits of our labour for others, while at the same time procuring the goods and services of others. Jesus teaches that “a labourer deserves his wages.” This teaching imparts that justice is to be done in every human labour. When a man works he deserves to be paid. The general Christian teaching is such that work should be remunerated rightfully. Moreover, our attitude, positive or negative, towards the less privileged and labour sections of our society defines our moral standing as Christians in the society in which we live. A dignified, respectful, and collaborative attitude towards the working class will make our society more inclusive and Christian-like. Oratio: Lord, help me to respect every type of work and worker, who participates in my life to make it better and meaningful not just for me, but for the society at large. Actio: Convey your gratitude towards anyone who has in some way or another helped you. 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.
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PADRE AGNEL
Fr. Agnelo - An amazing pastor
by Br. Eusebio Miranda, Sfx
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he above is Fr. Agnelo’s very significant quote. Fr. Agnelo never longed for worldly power, name and fame and this is very clear from his words and teachings. From his childhood, his life was totally distinct from that of other children. Even his own relatives believed that he was a unique child; gifted with divine virtues and quite different from his other siblings. God’s chosen people do always have something special, which sometimes remains hidden from the eyes of common men.
Fr. Agnelo did not have many neighbours, but the people from his village always appreciated and praised his sublime virtues and asked their own children to follow his example. Though Fr. Agnelo was physically weak, he was a brilliant student. His fellow companions, his friends and all known to him fondly looked up to him with great respect. Even his superiors liked him a lot. Many parents used to send their children to him for confessions at the Pilar Church. A gentleman from Siridao whose name I cannot recollect and who is now aged used to tell me: “Every week, my mother used to send me to Fr. Agnelo for confession. And Fr. Agnelo lovingly used to make me understand that I should not commit the same sins again and again”. Yes indeed! Fr. Agnelo was always calm and peaceful and with
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Fr. Agnelo did not have many neighbours, but the people from his village always appreciated and praised his sublime virtues and asked their own children to follow his example. his own peaceful and composed heart, he poured peace and God’s grace into the hearts of people who came to him burdened with their sins. Fr. Agnelo had a humane heart; full of compassion and understanding. People even with hardened hearts, opened up to him. He was blessed with God’s amazing grace. It is of utmost importance that a priest attending to confessions should be filled with God’s grace, so that he can forgive the sinner with the same Divine Grace. So wherever he went, he built communities of faith. He used to go to preach in Kumta, Sanvordem and Shiroda or wherever it may be he touched the lives of people with love, hope and faith. Many times, even our priests are tempted by the ‘satan’ of pride, vanity, power, arrogance, lust and so on. And so it becomes difficult for two or three religious to live in harmony in a community. Life becomes stressful and difficult. And this becomes obvious even to outsiders. But in these testing times, God has given us an exemplary model in the person of Fr. Agnelo to follow. He has always
been a good shepherd, tending to his flock in the image of Jesus. Lord , make me a person of pure and humble heart. I may be a priest, religious, brother, a learner or laity— whoever I may be, wherever I may be, bestow on me the grace to honour my duty and be committed to my call. Let me experience this greatest miracle in my life through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo. Translation credit: Golda Gracias The writer is a member of the Society of Pilar. He is the Editor of Vauradeancho Ixtt, a weekly Konkani Newspaper, Pilar-Goa.
PADRE AGNEL
Venerable Agnelo
Our great intercessor before God Ediciana Quadros (Margao): My granddaughter was suffering from fever for a long time and it was not subsiding. Doctor suspected it might be dengue. At this moment of despair, we prayed through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo and also vowed that we would come to him, walking on our knees. A test was done and it was a real miracle. All reports came normal. We are very grateful to Fr. Agnelo and pray for his early sainthood. Christalina Fernandes (Aldona): My daughter had cold and throat infection. As a result of this, her speech was not clear. We consulted many doctors but to no avail. At this hour of great distress, we earnestly prayed to Mother Mary and Ven. Fr. Agnelo. And indeed! It was a miracle. She recovered. We profoundly thank Ven. Fr. Agnelo. May he soon be proclaimed a saint. Maria A. Pereira (Santana): As my son had fever, we consulted a doctor on whose advice, we admitted him in a hospital but it did not help. Later he went to Mumbai and there too, he was hospitalized. Unfortunately, his condition started deteriorating and immediately I was called. To my shock, I saw him almost bed ridden. I had with me the relic mud of Ven. Fr Agnelo which I gave him to drink mixed in water. And really
our great intercessor before God, Fr. Agnelo came to our aid. He slowly started recovering. Earlier, he was unable even to go to the toilet, but now he could go to the kitchen and manage to make a cup of tea for himself. And not only that, he could even use his bike to go marketing. I am very grateful to Ven. Fr. Agnelo because through his intercession, my son has fully recovered. Vinny Almeida (Panchwadi): On 7th September 2018, I had severe pain in my neck and also noticed there was a lump. I was terribly upset. I fervently prayed to Ven. Fr. Agnelo and drank his relic mud mixed in water. And by God’s grace and our deep faith, we witnessed a real miracle. Within ten days, the lump disappeared. I have no words to thank Almighty God and Fr. Agnelo for this healing. I pray Fr. Agnelo may soon attain sainthood. Maria Agnela Carvalho (Vasco): My husband was ailing with bile (liver) problem. He could not even sleep for two nights. We consulted a doctor who, after examining him, advised that he should undergo a surgery. At that crucial time, I prayed through the intercession of Ven. Fr. Agnelo to the Holy Trinity and Holy Family. On 26th November, he was operated. While the operation was going on, I saw
a vision wherein I saw Ven. Fr. Agnelo, wearing a white cassock and praying for us on his knees. The operation was successful. With deep gratitude, I thank Fr. Agnelo and pray for his sainthood. A M Rebelo (Chinchinim): I had some problems going on where I was working. I prayed hard to Jesus, Mother Mary, Padre Agnelo. After many struggles, I got a permanent contract and my mother is also recovering from hip bone surgery I thank Padre Agnelo for helping me. Translation credit: Golda Gracias
Prayer to obtain favours through Ven. Fr. 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 Ven. 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 Monastery, Pilar, Goa - India. 403 203 Mob.: 9322038791 Email: vpagnel@rediffmail.com
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PILAR NEWS
Work from Home Job Opportunities There are many opportunities available, for those who wish to make productive use of time during the coming holidays. Some will actually pay you for your effort and some will give you valuable exposure. This opportunity comes for Freshers - X/Xll /and Graduates – also for women, and for those who have lost their Jobs. There are also opportunities for those wishing to work as Interns i.e. work in Research Institutions, Corporates. If interested – listed below are a host of websites, you can explore and give it a shot. Patience and perseverance is the name of the game, so do not get disheartened if the first few tries fail. Don’t forget there are thousands also looking at opportunities and naturally companies will pick who they believe are the best. In the meantime brush up your Computer skills/speed- and whatever skills you think are needed for the jobs you wish to consider. FOR FRESHERS: short duration jobs with or without a stipend. • https://internshala.com/internships/work-from-home-jobs-innorth%20goa/duration-6/start_date-20210301/part_time-true. • https://in.indeed.com/jobs?q=Work+From+Home • https://in.indeed.com/jobs?q=Work+From+Home+Part+Time& l=Goa • https://www.naukri.com/job-listings-fresher-businessdevelopment-sales-work-from-home-pune-advids-co-punenagpur-panjim-panaji-0-to-3-years-180221006970?src=seo_srp &sid=16137213074756205_1&xp=2&px=1 • https://www.quikr.com/jobs/work-from-home+zwqxj2363381545 • https://www.monsterindia.com/srp/results?filter=true&limit=25& sort=1&functions=Customer%20Service%2FCall%20Centre%2FB PO&query=work%2Cfrom%2Chome%2Cfreshers&searchId=438 06a65-cb97-42af-9e0b-427ea83eacd0 • https://internshala.com/fresher-jobs/agriculture%20and%20 food%20engineering-fresher-job/remote_jobs/internships FOR X STD. FRESHERS -LOOKING FOR TECHNICAL TRAI NING • https://www.bosch.in/careers/students-and-graduates/tradeapprenticeship/ • https://internship.aicte-india.org/ FOR WOMEN • https://internshala.com/internship/detail/ugc-net-contentdevelopment-histor y-work-from-home-job-internship-atgradestack-learning-private-limited1613710417
Form IV - Rule 8
FOR THOSE IN THE COMPUTER FIELD (undergrad Engineering/BBA students • https://jobs.intel.com/ FOR THOSE IN THE PSYCHOLOGY/ COUNSELLING FIELD • https://sethu.in/internship/?gclid=Cj0KCQiApsiBBhCKARIsAN8o_ 4jLH0AqQCfA4KGvm9iDAlAJd9ECwtkr1VjQdX9LpIXrakUnh4b7xkaAnvCEALw_wcB • https://www.noticebard.com/social-sciences/ • https://internship.aicte-india.org/internship-details.php?uid=INTER NSHIP_1611315650600ab9c227a56 • https://www.noticebard.com/11-best-internships-india-students/ SCIENCE STUDENTS LOOKING FOR INTERSHIPS /SCHOLARSHIPS • https://www.careerlauncher.com/rising-star-scholarship/?utm_ source=Facebook&utm_medium=Organic&utm_ campaign=Scholarship. • https://ccs.in/ccs-academy/courses-and-programs/internship • https://www.biotecnika.org/2020/12/biotech-freshers-job-tipsbiotech-life-science-jobs-how-to-apply/ • https://internship.aicte-india.org/fetch_city.php?city=Mumbai • https://internship.aicte-india.org/register_new.php • https://internship.aicte-india.org/solar.php • https://www.reachingsky.org/v4a/
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RELATED INTERNSHIPS IN INDIA • http://parentedge.in/internship-for-high-schoolers/ • http://www.internshipprograms.com/ • http://www.highschoolinternships.net • http://www.internabroad.com • http://www.idealist.org/ • http://www.volunteerinternational.org/http://www.whatkidscando. org/resources/spec_summer.html https://www.techcroz.com/howit-work/ • https://www.shine.com/job-search/form-filling-jobs-in-goahttp:// www.khojle.in/jobs/part-time-goa (Disclaimer: Many of the above mentioned sites are well known in terms of recruiting staff. However, this publication takes no responsibility for the above content. This is just an effort to make people aware of the opportunities).
Place of Publication: Pilar, Goa-403 203 Periodicity of Publication: Monthly Printer’s Name: Fr. Noel George Savio Menezes, sfx Nationality: Indian Address: Pilar, Goa-403 203 Publisher’s Name: Fr. Noel George Savio Menezes, sfx Nationality: Indian Address: Pilar, Goa-403 203 Editor’s Name: Dr. Fr. Elvis Fernandes, sfx Nationality: Indian Address: Pilar, Goa-403 203 Name and Address of Individuals who own the newspapers and partners/ share holders holding more than one percent of the total capital: Xaverian Publication Society. I, Fr. Noel George Savio Menezes, sfx, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sd/ Fr. Noel George Savio Menezes, sfx, Publisher 34 | Fr. Agnel’s Call | April-May 2021
Covishield Vacine
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n the March 3, 2021, Dr. Ira Almeida, a pediatrician working in the Government hospital, addressed 55 fathers at the Pilar Monastery. She said that, Goa being a small state, has been supplied with only COVISHIELD vaccine, which is the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine. She spoke with confidence and conviction about taking the vaccine to prevent the spread of the COVID19 virus. She encouraged the Fathers who were 60 years plus, to take the vaccine at the earliest. She said that one may get infected even after taking the vaccine but would not get the disease. She insisted that we need to continue wearing our mask even after taking the vaccine.