Daily Flash, A Scripture Booklet By The Laity For The Laity
By Sister Lissy M., SAR NEWS
PANAJI, Goa (SAR NEWS) -- A booklet of daily scripture readings published
by a Goan laywoman is making waves across the country.
The booklet, 'Daily Flash', launched in 1990 by Ms. Noemia Mascarenhas,
is today one of the most appreciated scripture aids with a circulation of
over 16,000 copies.
Explaining what motivated her to venture into this mission, Ms. Noemia
says, "For several years, I had been considering bringing out a small,
practical booklet of Catholic reflections, as many Catholics then
preferred Protestant booklets like 'Daily Bread', 'Take 5' to our
literature."
Noemia, who edited 'Daily Flash' for the first five years, says: "As I
was the secretary of the Regional Commission for Christian life, I
proposed the idea of providing Catholics material for their reflection
based on the daily scripture readings. Full credit to the then Archbishop
Raul Gonsalves of Goa and the chairman of the Regional Commission for
Christian Life, who accepted the idea and encouraged me to go ahead by
donating Rs. 25,000 to launch the publication."
She added, "For the first issue, two of us wrote and it sold a 1,000
copies. Besides daily readings with reflections and examples from
everyday life, we also put in fillers from the Vatican Documents. It was
a type of catechesis."
The subscription rates did not even cover the product cost, but Neomia
did not give up. "We were on the verge of winding it up, but then as
providence had it, people reading 'Daily Flash' sent us donations for the
publication expenses. It really was God's work."
Behind Neomia's success is her husband, Francisco Dias. "He played a key
role in 'Daily Flash' survival.he provided his own office premises free
for our operations for the first two years. He encouraged me in such a
way that he never let my zeal flag, and contributed his expertise in
proof-reading and other practical necessities."
The project eventually took off in December 1990, the beginning of the
new liturgical year.
The aim of 'Daily Flash' from its inception is to help people read and
reflect on the Word of God, to lead them to a faith encounter with God,
to encourage them to give life witness to Christ, to guide the people to
a renewal of Christian Life oriented towards action, said Neomia.
The booklet also comes in handy for family prayers and the meetings of
Small Christian Communities.
From October 1992, the newly started Diocesan Centre for the Lay
Apostolalate (DCLA) under the directorship of Father Filipe Neri Ferrao
(now Archbishop of Goa) took over the publication of 'Daily Flash'. A
year later, he began a Konkani version of 'Daily Flash', titled
'Jivitacho Prokas'. Presently, It has a circulation of 17,000 and is
edited by Father Aleixo Menezes, the current director of the DCLA.
"I wanted to contribute to the Church, and I felt this was an ideal way
to give my contribution and I also feel that it keeps me closer to God,"
says Clifford D' Silva, who was the second Editor and who has been
writing for the booklet for the past 15 years.
Father Aleixo Menezes says, "It is a success among the laity because it
is mainly written by them and for them. Besides it is very handy and the
whole format is interesting. It has a focus, reflection, and fruit."
"It is very helpful to those who are homebound and cannot attend daily
Eucharist. It is also written in simple language that touches the life of
the people, personally, socially and spiritually. It brings about change
in the lives of the readers," he added.
'Daily Flash' is also sent to various states of India and abroad.
Vera Colaco, a regular reader of 'Daily Flash' says, "This booklet helps
me know the readings of the day. The reflections given are very good. I
read them either before or after the daily Eucharist because sometimes I
do not understand the reflection points given by the priests."
This booklet is also a medium of catechesis as it contains relevant
extracts from Church documents and information about feasts of other
religions. The editorial is based on the relevant topics of the month.
"'Daily Flash' is now well established and quite self-sufficient, too.
Looking back over the initial few years and how it survived through its
struggles, I am convinced that we were only instruments in what was
primarily God's work."
"Getting it off the ground was a great faith experience for me and my
husband, as we had to truly depend on God for everything - from finances
to the many generous writers who made 'Daily Flash' a reality. We are so
much richer for this experience," Noemia says.
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