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This is from SAR News. FN 12-Year-Old Claims He Has Visions of Mary; Church Officials Cautious Dona Paula : SAR News Goa is abuzz again with miracle stories. First it was Our Lady appearing at an abandoned hilltop church in Batim, a few kilometers from Pilar in central Goa. Then there was the blood-weeping picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at a private house in Camurlim, in southern Goa. Now it is the small, remote fishing village of Aivao at the foot of the famous Dona Paula tourist spot that is having its day in the sun. Droves of faithful are wending their way to a simple house where a 12-year-old boy, named Charles Lopes, studying in class VIII of a local Catholic school, is reported to be having visions of the Virgin Mary. Scarlet-shaded imprints of crosses, a heart, a ten-bead rosary and the word, "WAR" appeared and disappeared on the thighs, forearm and chest of this shy schoolboy. It seems to give credence to his words that on Friday, March 7 night, about the time he was praying the rosary with his family, he received the first vision of a weeping Virgin Mary. Fr. Orlando Marques, the assistant parish priest of Talegao, the boy's parish, confirmed having witnessed the imprint of a ten-bead rosary on one of the boy's thighs. The boy confirms that these imprints and word appeared and disappeared at various points of time since March 7. The Virgin Mary gave no message, he affirms, on the first occasion. But on the second occasion, March 11, she asked him to urge everyone to show more devotion through the rosary. Fr. Carmo Martins, the parish priest who was away on retreat at that time, visited the house for the first time, March 15, and spent some time with the family. The boy's mother, Saurina, describes her son as a rather pious boy who spends most of his free time in prayer, playing the piano, guitar and practising hymns. Some priests admitted there was prime facie evidence in the case, warranting a more serious look by the Church. This was confirmed by Fr. Olavo Velho Pereira, the Church's official spokesperson. "After preliminary investigation, if Church authorities feel the matter needs to be studied, then a committee is appointed for the purpose and a thorough study is done. The seriousness of the matter demands that all this is done properly, with prudence and without undue enthusiasm and hurry. Therefore, any effort to sensationalise the event and give way to exploitation of people's credulity, is more harmful than beneficial," he remarked. Retired Archbishop of Bhopal Passes Away Bangalore: SAR News Retired Archbishop Eugene D'Souza of Bhopal passed away March 18 morning, CBCI informed SAR News. He was ailing for sometime and was admitted recently to a hospital in Bhopal. According to the Bhopal Archbishop's house, the funeral is scheduled to take place in Bhopal, March 20 afternoon. D'Souza was appointed the first archbishop of Bhopal in 1964. He resigned March 20, 1994. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.goanet.org/mailman/listinfo/goanet
