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Goa Sudharop Annual Awards
January 5, 2011 - 3:45 - 6:30pm
Hotel Mandovi, Panaji, Goa
Details at: http://bit.ly/GoaSudharop2011
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Roman Catholics have a feeling of superiority. They always believe that theirs
is the true religion founded by Christ and that we are all saved. Apart from
hearing masses, and saying rosaries and attending feasts which are stereotype
what do we have to say we are the children of God ? Nothing. John was from
labour class. He lived in an ouNow tthouse of one rich catholic widow and did
all her work. He lived with his wife and three children. None of the members
ever went to school. John's mother looked after the kitchen when all the five
family members went to work. They did not know to pray either and sometimes
they had to work on sundays so going for mass was impossible. Many devout
catholics made him work on sundays and paid him less because poor John did not
know much of money matters. He had no savings and the day there was no work
there was no food. It was Good friday. People were rushing to the church. John
was busy breaking an old tree of a pious religious lady in her b
ack yard. He was not even aware that it was Good friday. Just then someone
rebuked him and shouted at him for not going to church. It was the day of
penance and fasting. You have to go to church shouted the good old lady. Poor
John felt hurt that he was not attending the church and left his work rushed
home and wore a crumpled old shirt and made his way to the church. Everyone's
gaze was on his crumpled shirt. Some one next to him caught his hand and asked
him whether he could not iron his shirt. It was in the month of October. John
was sitting outside his house . His mother was critically ill in Govt. hospital
and he could not go to work .Two members of his family had to remain in the
hospital. A couple came to his door and wanted to speak about christ. John got
irritated and said " Christ is for those whose stomach has its fill not for
poor John who has not been able to get food because there is no work. What will
I do with your sermon on Christ ? I want money. " The husba
nd opened his purse and gave him some dole and went away promissing to come
again. Next day a team of helpers descended at his house. They were a group of
protestants. They promised to send his children to school and promised to give
John a decent job. John's children went to school. John and his wife got a job
on monthly salary with free food at their centre. John and his family were free
on sundays and attended Praise and worship. His clothes were now different, his
looks were now different. His family was very happy. Some of the catholics
around his house came to know that John had become a believer and they went to
his house. They fired him for joining that group. You will be condemned to hell
. You will not get your last sacraments. save your soul John. This time John
really got angry. He stood straight and put his chest out and said. Did you
know that John really existed on this soil ? I wore crumpled clothes and you
made me work on sundays and even of Good friday that
time you never thought I had a soul. You paid me less and I accepted it. No
one thought about my children's education .Now that I have become a believer
and got my identity that I am a child of God you thought of my salvation and my
soul. Don't worry My God will save me for my heart is with God .albert de souza
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NEW BOOK: 'PATRIOTISM IN ACTION: Goans in Indias Defence Services'
Copies now available at:
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ONLINE (worldwide delivery): http://www.ritanabooks.com/booksdistri.htm,
http://goa1556.goa-india.org
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