The Santo Estevam Blog

Emidio Monteiro Following the release of his previous albums Iliana and Mogachi Kanni (Love Story), Jackson Dias presents his third Konkani album Mogachem Toofan (Love Storm) which is set to the music by the renowned Goan composer Mukesh Ghatwal. Besides Jackson Dias, this new CD will have popular Goan artists, namely Reniy, Alwyn Gomes, Valencia, Carran, Antoneta, Valentina, Chiara, Janice, Pooja, Renu, Annsika, Decela, Patrina and Kina. Voice Singing by Chiara Gomes & Janice Menezes Songs featured: 1. Mogachem Tufan : Jackson Dias 2. Meena Kumari : Valencia 3. Xakechem Zunvem : Reniy 4. Bamnnali Choli : Carran 5. Xiddkavnni : Alwyn 6. Mast-Mast-Mast : Jackson Dias 7. Jua Amcho Ganv : Antoneta 8. Ghorchem Kestanv : Alwyn-Janice 9. Zan’varanchem Fest : Jackson Dias 10. Sirganv Zatrek Vetam (Dekhnni) : Jackson Dias, Valencia, Valentina, Janice, Chiara, Pooja, Renu & Chorus *Dholak on Mast-Mast-Mast by Munna Chari

I reprint below the editorial (in Konkani) which appeared in the October 2012 issue of the Santo Estevam parish bulletin "St. Estevam Firgojechi Zap". Written by the Parish Priest and the Assistant Parish Priest opposing the Jua-Dauji bridge proposed by some vested interests, the editorial appeals to the villagers to protect the fragile ecology of the island village. Fuddlea panar dista tem chitr eka novea pulachem (bridge). Ho novo pul Khandola (Marcela) sakun Cumbharjua veta. Ho ek bhag purnn (toiar) zala punn dusro bhag Cumbharjua sakun Gaundalim vetolo. To dusro bhag hea fuddem bandun ietolo. He donui nove pul Khandola-Cumbharjua-Gaundalim purnn zalear amkam Juem vo Sant Estevao ravtoleank Old Goa vo Panaji vochunk zaito faideacho zatolo. Magir amkam Banastari pul utrunk poddchenam. Kaim fattlea mhoineanim amchea Santo Estevao ganvant borich chollvoll zali. Dusro novo pul Sant Estevao tem Dauji naka mhonn lokani nixed marlo. Kiteak hea dusrea novea pula vorvim amchea g...

The Hail Mary is a beautiful invocation and a means of growing closer to Our Lady. It is also an extremely old prayer, and is based on the Angel Gabriel’s greeting to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation, and on her cousin Elisabeth’s greeting when Mary visited her. Forms of this prayer date from the eleventh century in the West, and perhaps as early as the sixth century in the East. In 1273, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote a booklet in which, in that age, ended with the words “… and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.” The invocation “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” was only added in the second half of the 16th century by St. Pius V, thus giving origin to the prayer we say today. Most Catholics are familiar with the Hail Mary from its use in praying the Rosary. In the five-decade Rosary, the Hail Mary is recited ten times in each of the decades as one meditates on the mysteries of Jesus’ ministry and his redeeming activity.

Biographical details about the life of St. Blaise are very scarce, and therefore legend has embellished his life with many prodigious events that made him one of the most popular saints in the Middle Ages. During the persecution of Christians by Licinius, a Roman emperor between 308 and 324 (there was more than one emperor in this period – Constantine was another), this saintly bishop was imprisoned in a cave outside Sebastea, in Armenia. It is said that wild beasts would come to him to be cured. It is also said that a mother once came to him asking him to cure her son, who was choking on a fish bone which was stuck in his throat. St. Blaise said a prayer and made the Sign of the Cross over the boy, who immediately recovered. For this reason, Blaise is venerated as patron of those suffering from diseases of the throat. During the 15th and 16th centuries, especially in Germany, St. Blaise would also be invoked in the cases of haemorrhages and ulcers, although the reason for this is not...