[Goanet] World Goa Day, a Goa Sudharop initiative - 2023

[George Pinto]

WORLD GOA DAY was founded in 2000 by Goa Sudharop which holds the international 
trademark for this special commemoration. See 
https://www.goasudharop.net/worldgoannetwork  Since 2000, the event has been 
celebrated by the World Goan Network under Goa Sudharop's founding role. This 
year, Goa Sudharop in association with the Directorate of Art and Culture, held 
an event at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on August 5 & 6. The grand cultural event 
was celebrated by thousands of Goans over the two days. Goa Sudharop had taken 
extraordinary measures to promote local artisans, craftsmen, farmers, 
handicraftsmen, women entrepreneurs and individual vendors etc. to support, 
encourage and preserve the heritage and traditional cultural roots of Goa. 

Music, dance, Konkani songs, authentic Goan Kunbi dances, poetry recitals and 
drawing competitions etc. were part of the two day event which drew people of 
all interests and ages. Kids took a very active part in drawing competition and 
poetry recitals. Folk dance and music by the bands pulled the crowd onto the 
stage, inviting them into the celebration - the fun and pride of being Goan. 
There was also a fashion show of our heritage Kunbi fabric of Goa organized by 
International Fashion Designer and Goa Sudharop's volunteer Executive Director 
Verma D'Mello. The fashion show involved women and men of all ages - a proud 
moment for Goans. Authentic Goan food was available and prepared by many rural 
women who are supported by Goa Sudharop, bringing together forgotten recipes of 
culturally rich Goa.

Goa Sudharop has many reasons to celebrate this year.  We won two major awards:
1. All India Woman Leaders Forum for empowering the underprivileged.
2. The Goa Star Women's Award for empowering women.

Thank you for your support.

Goa Sudharop

[Goanet] PRESS RELEASE: Goa Sudharop wins Goa Star Women Award 2023 (NGO category)

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop has been actively working in the field of social work since 2000 
without fanfare or calling attention to our work. It came as a pleasant 
surprise this month when we won the prestigious Goa Star Women Award 2023 (NGO 
category). We were recognized for our hard work on the ground towards the 
empowerment of women, an award which salutes women achievers in various fields. 

During the pandemic, Goa Sudharop reached out to the needy and medical 
community with important medical supplies, meals, etc. In addition, we launched 
a project to revive the Kunbi sari, a project which has received worldwide 
acclaim and allowed Goa Sudharop to single-handedly restore pride in this lost 
Goan fabric/symbol. Since 2000, Goa Sudharop has conducted various workshops 
related to education, the environment, children/women rights, gender 
sensitivity, etc. and projects related to carpentry, pottery, painting, farming 
and much more.  Each project is designed to provide low-income people 
(primarily women) an opportunity to learn new skills and and earn an income, 
achieve self-sufficiency and economic independence.

USA-based President of Goa Sudharop, Harriet Ferens, expressed her gratitude to 
the organizers for recognizing the Goa Sudharop team and their work for the 
underprivileged and said "The entire organization of volunteer staff, donors, 
supporters, and well-wishers are extremely pleased with this award. We will 
strive to further our efforts with many activities in the future." Goa-based 
Executive Director, Verma D'Mello said "We have strived to host many training 
programs for underprivileged women to raise their employment potential. We have 
a strong team behind Goa Sudharop and we always look to see how we can 
contribute back to society."

Goa Sudharop is an international NGO working for the betterment of Goans across 
the world since its founding in 2000. Please visit our website for more 
information https://www.goasudharop.net/

[Goanet] Thank you from Goa Sudharop

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop would like to thank our supporters, volunteers and especially 
donors who allowed us to have a very successful year. Thanks to the incredible 
generosity of Filomena Giese and Ligia Britto and their families we were able 
to purchase our own Center this year in Goa ("Posro") located in Margao. 

In 2022, we were able to provide jobs, and much needed employment to low-income 
Goans in Goa through several of our ongoing projects:  
1. Farming project - where land/related farm costs are provided free to those 
tilling the land and who keep the proceeds from their labor by selling their 
produce in our Posro center.
2. Handloom project - which teaches women to make Kunbi hand-woven sarees.
3. Carpentry project - which provides training to people to learn a skill and 
gain employment.
4. Pottery project - which provides training to people to learn a skill and 
gain employment.
5. The Thread Up project - which teaches women sewing skills to make garments 
and earn a living.
6. Pop-up markets - which allows various vendors to sell their goods and earn 
an income.

In addition, we built toilets for remote villagers who previously had no 
hygienic options, and provided relief and charity as needed. We would like to 
thank LA Goans who partnered with Goa Sudharop on some occasions on COVID 
relief provided in Goa.

If you wish to make a donation, kindly use this link 
https://www.goasudharop.net/donate (tax-deductible for USA residents).

Please forward this link to your contacts. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Goa Sudharop, California
https://www.goasudharop.net/donate

Re: [Goanet] Reading About Rishi (O Heraldo, 30/10/2022)

[George Pinto]

Currently there are 60 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Instead of celebrating 
the worldwide rise of Indians in various fields, including the current British 
PM, the usual politics of envy and tribalism trumps any celebration. It is fair 
game to criticize capitalism and the politics is has bred, including PM Sunak's 
rise to 10 Downing Street. It is fair game to assess the racial imbalance and 
racial (in)equality in any society, the discriminations which hold women and 
people of color back, casteism (brown on brown racism), etc. But is it too much 
to ask that the first non-white British PM be celebrated in some small measure 
instead of the hit piece below? I accept the article has elements of truth but 
the usual criticisms of right-wing politics is used by various people quoted in 
the article to attacking the British PM on his incredible accomplishment.

Best regards,

George 


On Sunday, October 30, 2022 at 12:25:23 AM PDT, V M  wrote: 


https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/By-invitation/Reading-about-Rishi/195919

The elfin 42-year-old is a walking trigger warning. The first UK Prime Minister 
since Disraeli whose ethnic roots lie outside the British Isles, and the 
youngest in 200 years, Rishi Sunak is also an observant Hindu who made his 
first official appearances wearing the distinctive *kautuka* around his wrist. 
It’s impossible to ignore the historical symbolism of someone like him taking 
residence in 10 Downing Street, where Winston Churchill told his India 
Secretary that “I hate Indians. They’re a beastly people, with a beastly 
religion.”

Re: [Goanet] The Marvellous, Mysterious JoeGoaUk (O Heraldo, 22/10/2022)

[George Pinto]

Early on (10 years ago or so) Goa Sudharop recognized JoeGoaUK's contribution 
to Goa culture/history and gave him a cash award under the theory money is 
better than lip service.  JoeGoaUk's desire to remain incognito is a rare trait 
among Goans, who prefer the self-proportional limelight - most often undeserved.

Best regards,

George Pinto
Co-Founder, Goa Sudharop



On Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 12:23:41 AM PDT, V M  
wrote: 

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/The-Marvellous-Mysterious-JoeGoaUk/195539

This is my long-overdue tribute to an intriguing senior citizen, known only by 
the cryptic Internet moniker of JoeGoaUk. Over many years, this intrepid
anonymous correspondent has shared tens of thousands of photographs, along with 
hundreds of hours of video, in an invaluable online contribution
spanning many different genres: citizen journalism, cultural documentation, 
political commentary, Konkani *Mog*, locavore connoisseurship, trainspotting 
enthusiasm, and much more besides

Re: [Goanet] Even The Dog Stopped To Listen

[George Pinto]

8 years old?  May be.  However, Arjun told me at the Siolim tar this morning in 
the midst of all non-Goans who have taken over Goa and the tar, that when dogs 
listen to instrumental Western songs they hear it as a Bollywood tune, which 
dogs really like. This hearing differential is true of some other animals too. 
i.e. animals do not hear as humans do. In fact, Clive who is illegally staying 
in Goa since the UK does not want him, told me yesterday at the Candolim tar 
that dogs see differently than humans even though humans assume all animal 
senses operate the same as humans. Gunther who is also illegally in Goa (as are 
many others from Germany who are also not wanted there), says many scientists 
make the same andromorphic mistake. Frederick who is looking for a deeper and 
better understanding so non-Goans can replace Goans in Goa, is looking for a 
Konkani word to describe this phenomenon.


On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 11:07:37 AM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

>From a young Ukrainian girl of 8 playing the violin on the streets of Santa 
>Monica in California for pocket money, this classically trained prodigy now a 
>teen, has captured the hearts of You Tube viewers all over the world not only 
>with her music but also with her happy swirls, bringing a smile to everyone.

Karolina Protsenko doing an Elvis Presley.
https://youtu.be/GKp8n0j7Zq0

Roland.
Toronto.

[Goanet] Vamona Navelcar

[George Pinto]

Goa lost of her greats and true to Goan form, he was largely ignored while 
alive. In the last 15 years when I got to know Navelcar, I made it a point to 
visit him during my trips to Goa.  He lived modestly in his Pomburpa home and 
in means below his stature.
Now that Navelcar has passed we will see the usual "remembrances" and 
"eulogies" from people who did not make the time for him or support his work 
while he was alive. Worse, we will see the vultures descend on his family to 
gather his paintings, claiming to be art-lovers.  
George

Re: [Goanet] Colin Powell And Vaccine Efficacy

[George Pinto]

There is no bottom to human idiocy and Goans are abundantly blessed in that 
respect.  Add greed and that explains why Goans everywhere have fallen behind 
most communities.


On Monday, October 18, 2021, 01:27:56 PM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 


Colin Powell both the hero and villain of the Gulf War and the Iraq Invasion 
that led to first, the liberation of Kuwait and then to an invasion and 
destruction of Iraq based on a falsehood, died at 84. 

Although passing away from the effects of the Covid virus, he had an ongoing 
condition of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.

Only idiots would question the value of a vaccine based on Colin Powell’s 
circumstances, but alas, idiots are not lacking at any time and in any place.

CNN took it upon itself to patiently explain why sometimes vaccines don’t work. 
I doubts the idiots among us will find the explanation sufficient.

Why vaccinated people dying from Covid-19 doesn't mean the vaccines are 
ineffective.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/health/covid-19-vaccination-colin-powell-death-wen-wellness/index.html

Roland.
Toronto.

Re: [Goanet] Top ten gangsters in Goa....

[George Pinto]

I was told the Top 10 gangsters in Goa belonged to political parties. Maybe 
even the Top 40.


On Monday, September 13, 2021, 05:06:16 PM PDT, Frederick Noronha 
 wrote: 

How many of these have you heard of?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzJlmer2Az8
ᐧ

Re: [Goanet] Origins of the colours of the Indian flag 

[George Pinto]

The Indian flag designer looked at various flags for ideas and narrowed it down 
to the Irish flag which he printed "Landscape" instead of "Portrait". Being a 
govt. bureaucrat who was on his tea and lunch break for most of the day, he did 
not have time to realize his mistake and gave the printout to his Supervisor 
who was also on his tea and lunch break for most of the day. But the Supervisor 
did commend him and said "this is first-class" as some Indians say when they do 
not know any better and are too lazy to know better. The flag was approved and 
this is the true story. So now you know the truth.


On Saturday, September 11, 2021, 03:35:37 PM PDT, Ivan Pereira 
 wrote: 

FYI - sharing a ‘note’ with members of Goanet.net: 

Origins of the colours of the Indian flag: orange, white, & green. 

The other very big coincidence (as u & colleagues may know) 
is the similarity of the colours of the Irish flag & the Indian flag: 
The Irish flag has green, white, & orange vertical stripes. 

It is well-known that the Indian independence leaders admired the Irish freedom 
fighters in the 1910s, Collins & others, surviving thru the Partitions, etc.. 

They wondered how Ireland got independence (except for the 14 northern 
Protestant majority counties) while being in close proximity with England, & 
why India was having such difficulty 1000s of miles away. 

There is a lot of mumbo-jumbo taught in schools about the significance of the 
colours, religious symbolism, etc., & the chakra of course of Ashoka the Great. 

However, the coincidence & similarity to the Irish flag is unmistakable, the 
Indian flag having the same colours horizontally, the Irish vertically. No 
other flag had similar colours. 

The Indian independence leaders were making a strong statement that they were 
part of the international community, & that independence was not about 
isolation, or being isolated.

Subsequently, more than a decade later, an African country chose the same 
colours. 

The Indian leaders behind the scenes were ‘internationalists’, & very rightly 
so, as they wanted to participate in the international economy, as that was 
where they saw their future & prosperity. 

Dieu Borem Korun ! 

Re: [Goanet] Corruption in Goa

[George Pinto]

Leon Trotsky once wrote "You may not be interested in war, but war is 
interested in you". Many Goans have been clueless and indifferent to the land 
war being waged against them till it hits their doorstep and then they wake up. 
There is a global land war being waged against ordinary citizens by their own 
governments - everywhere, even is so-called democracies. An attack on rights, 
income, primarily with the end goal of usurping land and its related resources. 
In the last 20 years, the land wars have come to Goa and ethnic Goans are badly 
losing the war. Not only is the government lined up against them but powerful 
outside forces collude with Goa's own building and mining mafia. And let's not 
forget many "journalists" are either the front for the land mafia or clueless 
as to what is going on, either way does not reflect well on "journalism".  Only 
a few are not timid or compromised.

Look in any direction in Goa and there is a land scam in progress. And Goans 
have been complicit along with the legal profession which helps with the 
"paperwork regularisation" (land scams cannot happen without lawyers). Even 
diaspora Goans refuse to assist their own family in Goa and would rather sell 
ancestral land to a non-Goan rather their own family (who by the way may not 
always be angels). Or the other stupidity happens - donate land to the 
church/temple which in turn engages with the land scammers.


You reap what you sow.


On Sunday, August 29, 2021, 09:07:27 AM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

I totally agree.

Instead of a single Nero fiddling while Rome burns, all Goans except for a few 
earnest citizens who can see what’s happening, fiddle while Goa decays like a 
rotten fruit.

Elsewhere, there would be anger and disruption with people chasing away vote 
seeking candidates and totally boycotting the election, but in Goa, the people  
continue to accept crumbs thrown at them like penniless beggars, flock liquor 
stores, celebrate birthdays and weddings and put even Nero to shame.

Who suffers? Not George in Berkeley, Roland in Toronto and Salus in Melbourne. 

Wake Up you slothful, lazy buggers. Your sussegad has stopped being a virtue 
after 1961.

George writes;
There is no ceiling to the level of corruption in Goa. The govt at all levels - 
village, panchayat, sarpanch, state govt., state govt. departments, etc. 
actively work against the interests of Goans, in collusion with the building 
and mining mafia, many of them non-Goans.
See  
https://www.facebook.com/InGoa24x7/videos/watch-how-tcp-is-being-misusedand-goa-is-being-sold/965282850702074/?__so__=permalink&__rv__=related_videos
 With Goa in dire straits and sinking into the grave, compare the fluff about 
fun, feni, fish posted in Goan forums and Goan magazines/publications, and the 
never ending nostalgia of a Goa that once was while Goa is headed off the cliff 
while Goans frolic. Ethnic and cultural suicide is not a pretty scene. Goa, RIP 
George.

Roland.
Toronto.

[Goanet] Corruption in Goa

[George Pinto]

There is no celling to the level of corruption in Goa. The govt at all levels - 
village, panchayat, sarpanch, state govt., state govt. departments, etc. 
actively work against the interests of Goans, in collusion with the building 
and mining mafia, many of them non-Goans.

See 
https://www.facebook.com/InGoa24x7/videos/watch-how-tcp-is-being-misusedand-goa-is-being-sold/965282850702074/?__so__=permalink&__rv__=related_videos

With Goa in dire straits and sinking into the grave, compare the fluff about 
fun, feni, fish posted in Goan forums and Goan magazines/publications, and the 
never ending nostalgia of a Goa that once was while Goa is headed off the cliff 
while Goans frolic.

Ethnic and cultural suicide is not a pretty scene.

Goa, RIP

George

[Goanet] Saint Joseph Vaz Petition to H. H. Pope Francis

[George Pinto]

From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute .

Unfortunately, we had some technical issues with the previous Civist Petition 
link on our website for Petition to H.H. Pope Francis to make St. Joseph (Naik) 
Vaz "Patron Saint of First Responders" in our Covid times. We had to change the 
old Petition site to Change.org.   

Kindly sign the new link at http://chng.it/KPjrLM7KWG (takes 10 seconds) even 
if you previously signed the old link.

We will use the signatures from the current Change.org link to send to H.H. 
Pope Francis and the Vatican.

This is a great opportunity to share our Indian-Sri Lankan spiritual heritage 
and pass on the inspiring story of our own great spiritual model of Christian 
and humanitarian love and service to the next generation!

Kindly sign the new link at http://chng.it/KPjrLM7KWG (takes 10 seconds)

Please share the information in the Petition about this amazing Asian Saint 
with your parish councils, parish contacts, family and friends on your social 
media.

With thanks from our organizers Filomena, George, and Fr. Olvin Veigas S.J.

USA text: 510-325-1803 

[Goanet] The Bhumiputra Adhikarni Bill

[George Pinto]

The destruction of Goa, Goans, Goaness

http://epaper.thegoan.net/m5/3189104/The-Goan-Everyday/Bhaangarbhuin#page/4/1

The final nail in Goa's coffin for Goans. Like the proverbial camel who pushed 
the owner out of the tent, non-Goans have pushed Goans out of their own land 
with the full complicity of Goan politicians. Tragically, Goans have committed 
ethnic suicide driven by greed - how can a people have been so 
self-destructive? Goans have shown the world their "special" DNA, the 10 sins 
which have brought about our downfall: lies, hypocrisy, arrogance, stupidity, 
corruption, pettiness, pride, greed, envy, jealously. 

Goa, RIP

Re: [Goanet] 76th Anniversary of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

[George Pinto]

 The person responsible for the murder of innocent lives in Hiroshima and 
Nagasaki was President Truman. Japan's barbaric past acts neither justified the 
dropping of the bombs or made the Japanese govt. responsible for dropping the 
bombs. President Truman made the decision knowing Japan was on the verge of 
surrender, President Truman did not have to use the bombs. The Oped from the LA 
Times (see link below) points out a number of historical facts, including then 
General Eisenhower and several US generals advocating against the use of the 
bomb, the same General Eisenhower who went on to warn of the military 
industrial complex which is today's war profit machine (which partly explains 
so many conflicts around the world - war is profitable, peace is not - at least 
in the sense of making money).  Lots of companies and arms dealers make 
billions with the war mongering, if only peace was as profitable.  
Unfortunately, more conflicts equals more profits, and the vast majority of 
citizens go along especially when war is cloaked in nationalism, jingoism, 
militarism and waving the flag.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-08-05/hiroshima-anniversary-japan-atomic-bombs

Excerpt: "Generals Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur and Henry “Hap” Arnold 
and Admirals William Leahy, Chester Nimitz, Ernest King, and William Halsey are 
on record stating that the atomic bombs were either militarily unnecessary, 
morally reprehensible, or both."

By the way, the atom bomb was tested in July 1945, by which time WW II was over 
and Hitler had committed suicide in April 1945. Although President Truman may 
have been a racist, he did not have the bomb ready prior to the war being over 
to drop on Germany.  Hence the statement that the bomb was dropped on Japan and 
not on Germany as evidence of Truman's racism does not hold.

Best regards,

George

Re: [Goanet] Help a fellow Goan ...

[George Pinto]

 Adolfo, good to hear from you and thank you for your email. Please continue to 
get people to sign the petition below.  Goans should support a fellow Goan, in 
this case one of the most extraordinary saints in the universal church, We have 
to try and get Saint Vaz his just due as Patron Saint. Thank you for your help.
Best regards,George

On Sunday, August 8, 2021, 03:00:20 AM PDT, Adolfo Mascarenhas 
 wrote:  
 
George Thankyou for your Message

I went tothe site. Unfortunately 16 minutes later, I  found that there were two 
problems. The site wasconfusing me with my son and I could not get out of Maple 
Street MA. 

Yes ourGoan friend needs help in tthis day and age of the Pandemic Pox 21 and 
all the shamelesswars going on in the name of Religion.  Iwill ask my Goan and 
other friends here in Tanzania to participate 

 

 I will also read the article which appeared inthe earlier part of the year 

Thank you…







George 

In Issue 410 . Message: 4 Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2021 18:17:57 + (UTC) which 
I received a few minutes ago  to help a fellow Goan 

Message-ID: <1619007659.650166.1628360277...@mail.yahoo.com>

 

Gosh you really frightened me for a few moments ...I was thinking of a poor 
decrepit fellow who needed AA to assist.  You George have a sense of humour you 
were referring to St Joseph Vaz .

Yes he should be the Patron Saint of hFirst Responders.  Its critical ...First 
Responders can be health workers of all status, policemen and religious people 

I am in full support I admire St.Joseph Vaz, because of my professional 
interest in famines, disease .I am surprised that at one time when I was at 
St Joseph Vaz birthplace, a young Goan couple mistook me for a Priest (because 
of my white beard)  and  came for my blessing I did but I wonder what I 
would have done if they decided that I should hear their confession.

 

God Bless




Grandolfo

In Makongo Juu


---

Help a fellow Goan, Saint Joseph Vaz, become the "Patron Saint of First 
Responders" during this pandemic and Covid crisis. If you already signed the 
petition, thank you. If you have not, only 15 seconds of your time can help a 
fellow Goan. Please sign the petition to Pope Francis at this link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/  (the petition is half-way down the page).

Your signature to our Petition - and your help in collecting signatures today 
by forwarding to others and posting on social media - can make the difference 
as to whether or not Saint Vaz is made Patron Saint. Saint Vaz risked his life 
for others, all we are asking now is for a signature.
 
We have petitioned Pope Francis, asking that St. Joseph Vaz be made "Patron 
Saint of First Responders" because of his care of the abandoned victims of the 
smallpox epidemic in seventeenth century.  

As you may know, the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute has sent letters and Petitions 
to the Popes and the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of the Saints since 
1978, asking for action on the Cause of first Venerable Fr. Joseph Vaz, then 
Blessed Joseph Vaz.  Finally, those of us who signed those letters and 
Petitions lived to see him become Saint Joseph Vaz because of our combined 
support of those signature drives.

The Postulator for his Canonization, Rev. Thomas Klosterkamp O.M.I, told us 
that one of the factors that led to the decision by H.H. Pope Francis and the 
Sacred Causes of the Saints to canonize St. Joseph Vaz was the Petition and 
signatures from around the world that we collected in 2014 for his 
canonization.  He recorded our work in the historical document the "Positio 
Historica" that he submitted for the Canonization.

Please sign the petition to Pope Francis at this link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/ (the petition is half-way down the page)
Sincerely,

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
California, USA




  

[Goanet] Help a fellow Goan

[George Pinto]

Help a fellow Goan, Saint Joseph Vaz, become the "Patron Saint of First 
Responders" during this pandemic and Covid crisis. If you already signed the 
petition, thank you. If you have not, only 15 seconds of your time can help a 
fellow Goan. Please sign the petition to Pope Francis at this link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/  (the petition is half-way down the page).

Your signature to our Petition - and your help in collecting signatures today 
by forwarding to others and posting on social media - can make the difference 
as to whether or not Saint Vaz is made Patron Saint. Saint Vaz risked his life 
for others, all we are asking now is for a signature.
 
We have petitioned Pope Francis, asking that St. Joseph Vaz be made "Patron 
Saint of First Responders" because of his care of the abandoned victims of the 
smallpox epidemic in seventeenth century.  

As you may know, the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute has sent letters and Petitions 
to the Popes and the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of the Saints since 
1978, asking for action on the Cause of first Venerable Fr. Joseph Vaz, then 
Blessed Joseph Vaz.  Finally, those of us who signed those letters and 
Petitions lived to see him become Saint Joseph Vaz because of our combined 
support of those signature drives.

The Postulator for his Canonization, Rev. Thomas Klosterkamp O.M.I, told us 
that one of the factors that led to the decision by H.H. Pope Francis and the 
Sacred Causes of the Saints to canonize St. Joseph Vaz was the Petition and 
signatures from around the world that we collected in 2014 for his 
canonization.  He recorded our work in the historical document the "Positio 
Historica" that he submitted for the Canonization.

Please sign the petition to Pope Francis at this link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/ (the petition is half-way down the page)

Sincerely,

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
California, USA

[Goanet] Help a fellow Goan, sign our Petition to H.H. Pope Francis

[George Pinto]

Please sign our Petition to H.H. Pope Francis to make Goan Saint Joseph Vaz the 
"Patron Saint of First Responders". The Petition is at this link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/  Please forward to your contacts and social media.

Brief background on St. Joseph Naik Vaz  and the Petition ...

St. Joseph Naik Vaz, Son of India (Goa), Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka, is 
fully worthy of being made a “Patron Saint” of at least one of the many 
contributions he made to the Catholic Church and to humanity.

For his extraordinary achievements see: "Life of St. Joseph Vaz" on Amazon 
Kindle: https://tinyurl.com/JosephVaz

Many of his fellow Goans. as well as devoted Mangaloreans and Sri Lankans,  
signed the various Petitions we sent to the Popes and the Sacred Congregation 
for the Causes of the Saints for the Beatification and Canonization of St. 
Joseph Vaz, since our inception in 1978. 

As the Postulator for his Canonization, Fr. Thomas Klosterkamp, O.M.I., said in 
2014, the evidence of devotion and Signatures we collected from the Catholic 
lay admirers and devotees of St. Joseph Vaz convinced the Pope and the Sacred 
Congregation for the Saints to make him an official SAINT of the Catholic 
Church, a long three hundred and ten years after his Cause was started in 1713!

Right now, an Italian teenager, Carlo Acuti, who has not been even canonized, 
has already been selected for Patron Saint of the Internet. The Cause of an 
American Chaplain, Fr. Emil Kapaun, who was killed in Communist North Korea is 
being started.  Even before he has been declared a Venerable, there is already 
a movement to have him declared a “Patron Saint” of military Chaplains. We need 
to have people of color represented too and included in the honors of the 
church, not just Westerners and white-Europeans.

Even though so many non-European Catholics are suffering persecution and 
religious hostility like St. Joseph Vaz did for the sake of the Gospel, they 
are not chosen as Patron Saints as models of compassion and Christian love to 
the world.  In the last 500 years since western Christianity was taken under 
colonial conquest to the New World, Africa, and Asia, the Vatican has made only 
one non-European SAINT a “Patron Saint.”  This was St. Tekawitha, a Native 
American of Canada and the U.S.

Our Joseph Naik Vaz Institute has sent a Petition to H.H. Pope Francis to have 
St. Joseph Naik Vaz made Patron Saint of First Responders because of his work 
of taking care of victims of deadly infectious smallpox in 17th century Kandy, 
and, most importantly, as a model of heroic service in our own Covid times. 

Sign our PETITION at this link https://josephnaikvaz.org/

AND HELP ACHIEVE GREATER INCLUSION OF SAINTS AND PATRON SAINTS LIKE INDIAN-SRI 
LANKAN ST. JOSEPH VAZ IN THE CATHOLIC CALENDAR OF SAINTS!

Please pass along to your contacts and social media.

Thank you.

JOSEPH NAIK VAZ INSTITUTE
https://josephnaikvaz.org/
Berkeley, California, U.S.A
email: josephnaik@gmail.com

Re: [Goanet] Music by the late Basilio Magno, a Goan based in Spain (photo of CDs)

[George Pinto]

Yes, I remember Basilio Magno well and his role in helping Goa Sudharop launch 
World Goa Day, see 

https://www.goasudharop.net/worldgoannetwork


On Friday, July 23, 2021, 03:34:45 PM PDT, Frederick Noronha 
 wrote: 

https://flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/51318117035/in/datetaken/

[Goanet] Club Tito's

[George Pinto]

Remember the Goan DNA and the 9 deadly sins: lies, hypocrisy, arrogance, 
stupidity, corruption, pettiness, pride, greed, envy (someone can come up with 
an appropriate acronym). 

So in Goa 2 + 2 = Unknown mystery. 

Go figure.

Re: [Goanet] WHEN WILL OUR PANAJI BE A SMART CITY?

[George Pinto]

In response to the question in the subject line, the correct answer is the 
month of May (as in may be regarding anything to do with Goa, nothing is 
definite till the money runs out for bribes). The year will be 2189 or so. We 
will all be dead by then and there will be no Goans living in Goa but Panjim 
will be a smart city while corruption continues to run rampant.

I am not sure if that answers the question but hope it helps.

George

[Goanet] St. Joseph Vaz - book release

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE JOSEPH NAIK VAZ INSTITUTE

June 23, 2021

334th Anniversary of first Mass said in Sri Lanka by St. Joseph Naik Vaz

Amazon Kindle Book on St. Joseph Naik Vaz, Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka

On this 334th Anniversary of the first Mass said in Sri Lanka on June 23, 1687 
by St. Joseph Vaz when he went there to re-found the Church in Sri Lanka under 
Dutch persecution, we are honored to release a Kindle book by Filomena S. Giese 
about his very great life and his humanitarian service to the abandoned victims 
of the smallpox epidemic in Kandy in 1696.  It is written as a Tribute to all 
First Responders, caregivers, and volunteers in the past and in today’s 
Covid-19 pandemic who are risking their lives from danger or infection to save 
others.

The title of the book is:  St. Joseph Naik Vaz (1651-1711) – an Indian-Sri 
Lankan Saint and First Responder for our Covid times.

The link to this Kindle book is:   https://tinyurl.com/JosephVaz

At the beginning of the book is an Article by Filomena published in the 
Examiner (Mumbai) in January 2021 titled “ St. Joseph Naik Vaz – An Indian-Sri 
Lankan Saint for our Covid Times.”  It describes the heroic way St. Joseph Vaz 
and his nephew, Fr. Joseph Carvalho, gave shelter, food, medicine, washed the 
sores of smallpox victims, comforted them, and even sometimes buried them.  It 
was at this time that St. Joseph Vaz founded the first hospital in Kandy.

The Synopsis and description of the book is on our website: 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/1006

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://www.josephnaikvaz.org

Re: [Goanet] 19th June 2021 Goa news (Frankey Fernandes

[George Pinto]

Goa is not a physical place for Goans around the world, so the analogy with 
divorce does not quite work. Goa is not the "former" motherland, it will always 
be the motherland for many Goans in Bombay, Delhi, Lisbon, UK, etc.  The 
adopted motherland of Australia, Canada, etc. is "adopted".


On Saturday, June 19, 2021, 01:07:29 AM PDT, Edwin/Diana Pinto 
 wrote: 

While I can certainly empathize with the nostalgic feelings of expat Goans 
towards their former motherland, I can't help thinking that it's akin to
someone divorcing his or her spouse to marry again, and yet inexplicably 
maintaining his or her home as a shrine to the divorced one.

> Message: 4
> Date: Sat, 19 Jun 2021 03:06:16 +1000
> From: Frankey Fernandes 
>
> 19th June 2021.
> Please watch, subscribe and share with your families especially those
> living overseas.
> https://youtu.be/TfblvF5AKS8

[Goanet] URGENT: GOA Covid Emergency Fund by Goa Sudharop

[George Pinto]

Dear Goans:

As you know the COVID crisis in Goa is beyond dire and this is no time to stand 
on the sidelines. We have to help, ALL of us. Goa Sudharop is a non-profit/NGO 
based in the USA and is directly assisting with helping Goa and Goans in this 
crisis. Since the pandemic began last year, we have been providing various 
assistance, medical equipment, supplies and other COVID assistance.

In the midst of the ongoing COVID devastation in Goa which cannot be adequately 
described, every day brings new tragic news. Today one of our Goa Sudharop 
volunteers in Goa informed us that a young father (a poor day-laborer) died of 
COVID in hospital, his wife is also in another hospital with COVID and 
hopefully recovers, at least for the sake of their young now-orphaned sons, 
ages 8 & 9.5 years. The kids are alone and no neighbor or relative comes by, 
not wanting to possibly contract the virus. This pandemic may not be the new 
version of hell, but it is some version and perhaps the Gods of our Goan people 
have temporarily resigned, retired or quit entirely.

The need now is for oxygen concentrators, tanks, oximeters, medical supplies 
and other Covid related help. Please make a donation of any amount, no amount 
is too small. Donations are tax-deductible for USA residents. 

Please donate at this link  https://www.goasudharop.net/donate

Make this moment count. Give Goans a chance at life, there is so much loss of 
life which is very sad and heartbreaking. Please help us make a difference !  
From all the Goa Sudharop volunteers working on the front lines in Goa and 
those who will benefit - a big thank you in advance for your generosity. 

If you have already given to our Emergency Fund, thank you. If you have not 
because you are giving to other similar causes or helping privately, thank you 
for all you do. If you simply have not gotten around to giving, please do so. 
When our children or grandchildren ask someday "what did you do in the 
pandemic?", our answer should be worthy of them.

Please donate at this link  https://www.goasudharop.net/donate

Please forward to your contacts and social media. Thank you.

Goa Sudharop
https://www.goasudharop.net/covid-assistance

[Goanet] GOA SUDHAROP: COVID assistance

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE 

In the midst of the monumental COVID crisis in India, Goa Sudharop's COVID 
assistance initiatives continue ...

As part of its year-long efforts to help Goans since the onset of the pandemic, 
Goa Sudharop is continuing to help. 

1. Families whose members are currently affected by COVID may order nutritious 
home cooked meals for patients and their immediate families at a very nominal 
cost. The meals can be picked up or delivered. Delivery is currently available 
only in South Goa. Please Call Sandhya at 8378012400 or Paciencia at 9767887665 
for more information.  

2. Families whose members are currently affected by COVID can receive free 
transport to a hospital or testing site. Free transport is currently available 
only in South Goa. Please call Jennifer at 9922289909 for more information.  

To help our efforts, well-wishers and supporters can donate to Goa Sudharop at 
this link https://www.goasudharop.net/donate  Thank you.

Goa Sudharop

Re: [Goanet] COVID STATS GOA

[George Pinto]

Based on reports from the ground, the number of COVID cases are much higher in 
Goa. The situation is very dire, a combination of open tourism, new variants of 
the virus, a false sense things were permanently getting better, continuing 
super-spreader events, lack of social distancing, lack of using face-masks, low 
rate of vaccinations and overall mismanagement of the crisis.


On Sunday, May 2, 2021, 10:41:34 AM PDT, Gabe Menezes  
wrote: 

http://www.uniindia.com/goa-reports-2030-new-cases-of-covid-19-52-deaths/west/news/2385475.html

Re: [Goanet] Modi is guilty of mass negligent manslaughter in India - Haaretz

[George Pinto]

We have been told India is progressing, but the dim reality is India is falling 
far behind not just China, but many other countries. But the rich are becoming 
super-rich while the rest of the population struggles. The COVID issue is only 
one of India's many failures. And of course, Goa is getting worse everyday on 
many fronts - primarily driven by the great Goan land-grab currently underway. 
Goa RIP


On Friday, April 30, 2021, 10:20:04 PM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

A damning opinion piece in a leading Israeli publication that minces no words.

https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/.premium-modi-is-guilty-of-mass-negligent-manslaughter-in-india-1.9758037

Roland
Toronto

[Goanet] Goa's lockdown

[George Pinto]

How can Goa have a lockdown when the rest of India comes to Goa to get away 
from their infested areas and flaunt all rules in Goa with impunity.  Goans 
welcome COVID infested Indians with open arms, they come and thrash Goa and in 
some cases, rob Goan land. Fortunately some Indians leave but the ones who stay 
treat Goans as second-class and third-class citizens in their own land.  Goans 
are not very bright, responsible for their own fate. Right?

Re: [Goanet] Prince Phillip

[George Pinto]

 This is the article, not the BBC link below 
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2017/8/13/the-priceless-racism-of-the-duke-of-edinburgh
On Friday, April 9, 2021, 09:29:59 AM PDT, George Pinto 
 wrote:  
 
 The priceless racism of the Duke of Edinburgh

The priceless racism of the Duke of Edinburgh
Excerpts from the article:
Prince Philip – how shall we put it gently here – is a rank racist. His racism 
is a public secret. Everyone knows it. The Prince himself habitually stages it. 
So the BBC needs to report it, though in a typically BBC kind of a way – by 
making it frivolous and innocuous.  

“Prince Philip’s gaffes from decades on royal duty,” the BBC headlines it. So 
the good Prince’s astonishing utterances are not what they are, symptomatic of 
a deeply racist mind. They are just “gaffes” – unintentional and unfortunate 
remarks causing embarrassment, things he should not have said, and did not 
really mean, but unfortunately did say. That’s why they are “gaffes”.  

BBC’s transparent attempt at whitewashing notwithstanding, Prince Philip’s 
racism is actually quite priceless because it comes so naturally to him. He is 
not faking it. He is not trying to offend anyone. He is offensive. This is he. 
This is who he is – and the long panoply of his racist, sexist, elitist, 
misogynistic, class-privileged and unhinged prejudices is a mobile museum of 
European bigotry on display.







| 
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The priceless racism of the Duke of Edinburgh

Hamid Dabashi

Prince Philip has done the world an extraordinary service by exposing the 
racist hypocrisy of “Western civilisat...
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[Goanet] Goa's new Lokayukta

[George Pinto]

The recent appointment has a good reputation but his hands are tied by the 
government limiting and restricting his powers to non-essential matters. The 
key for a successful Lokayukta is criminal oversight over the mafia which runs 
Goa (the nexus of politicians, builders and corporates, many of whom are 
non-Goans). There is no teeth in the current Lokayukta law. What Goa needs are 
5 well-empowered Lokoyuktas to keep up with all the criminal activity in the 
state, may be even more than 5.

All of this begs the question: what is the Goa legal community doing in the 
current environment? Are they complicit and/or silent?  Are they fighting 
corruption on every front or by their complicity/silence are they guilty too?  
A few lawyers are fighting the criminal activity, but what about the vast 
majority of the legal profession?  What is to be said of them?  Shouldn't the 
legal profession always stand by the rule of law and their voices heard? There 
is no such thing as an innocent bystander in today's corrupt Goa.

[Goanet] Goa's new Lokayukta

[George Pinto]

The recent appointment has a good reputation but his hands are tied by the 
government limiting and restricting his powers to non-essential matters. The 
key for a successful Lokayukta is criminal oversight over the mafia which runs 
Goa (the nexus of politicians, builders and corporates, many of whom are 
non-Goans). There is no teeth in the current Lokayukta law. What Goa needs are 
5 well-empowered Lokoyuktas to keep up with all the criminal activity in the 
state, may be even more than 5.

All of this begs the question: what is the Goa legal community doing in the 
current environment? Are they complicit and/or silent?  Are they fighting the 
corruption on every front or by their complicity/silence are they guilty too?  
A few lawyers are fighting the criminal activity, but what about the vast 
majority of the legal profession?  What is to be said of them?  Shouldn't the 
legal profession always stand by the rule of law and their voices heard? There 
is no such thing as an innocent bystander in today's corrupt Goa.

Re: [Goanet] Goa’s Election Results

[George Pinto]

# 1. and # 5. below explains 99% of Goa's elections. In one word: greed. Or in 
a few words: selling your mother (land) for a few bucks is ok.


On Monday, March 22, 2021, 07:28:05 AM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote:

Is the pattern of Goa’s voting because:

1. People are influenced with money and other illegal gratification at election 
time.
2. Votes of the educated and aware are drowned by politician-cultivated 
illiterate vote banks.
3. There is no good choice of  candidates. One set is as bad as the next.
4. Real Goan voters don’t vote. It’s the slum dwellers and other illegally 
registered voters that outweigh the balance.
5. It’s a vicious circle. You need heaps of money to win and only those in 
power have access to that kind of money.
6. Religious and caste considerations influence the vote.

Roland.

George Pinto wrote: 
The vote count is in: the land mafia and corrupt politicians won, the rest of 
Goa lost.

New election, same result as before. 


  

[Goanet] Goa's election results

[George Pinto]

The vote count is in: the land mafia and corrupt politicians won, the rest of 
Goa lost.

New election, same result as before.

George

Re: [Goanet] TODAY WILL BE A HISTORIC DAY FOR PANAJI

[George Pinto]

What if "none of the above" gets the most votes? Does the second place finisher 
win or is there a new election?


On Friday, March 19, 2021, 03:32:17 PM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

Vote ‘None Of The Above’

Roland.


> On Mar 19, 2021, at 2:47 PM, Aires Rodrigues  
> wrote:
> 
> Finally the day has dawned. 20th March 2021 will be remembered as the day
> when the voters of the Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) which includes
> Ribandar resolutely voted to liberate the city from the clutches of the
> political demon Babush Monserrate.
> 
> To get rid of the current loot and plunder, it is important that we all get
> out and vote today for a better and blooming Panaji by overwhelmingly
> defeating the entire Babush Monserrate panel of cronies which has been
> tried, failed and deteriorated for over a decade.

Re: [Goanet] Meghan and Diana Could Have Saved the Royal Family - The Atlantic

[George Pinto]

The royal family does not need to be saved but abolished. This is 2021 not 
1521. White privilege based on a colonial mindset which by definition is based 
on inequality (some humans are royal, others are not) should end. The Queen 
should visit India, return the Kohinoor diamond, and clean an Indian toilet as 
penance for the sins of her ancestors. Such an action will also prove the 
dignity of labor and equality of all human beings.


On Thursday, March 18, 2021, 08:36:26 PM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

This is a long but most excellent article by Caitlin Flanagan. Her ease of 
writing, her wordsmithy and explanation of the Meghan Markle interview 
situation is second to none. The visual images she conjures up in the 
background are uniquely unmatched.

One would have little excuse not to read a work of journalistic opinion art 
like this.

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/meghan-and-diana-could-have-saved-royal-family/618318/

Roland.
Toronto.

Re: [Goanet] Through The Stained Glass: Take A Look At Some Of The Most Gorgeous Churches In Mumbai

[George Pinto]

>From the view of the poor of Bombay 

https://borgenproject.org/top-10-facts-about-poverty-in-mumbai/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU8AnqSOih0

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/feb/26/mumbai-poor-mahul-gentrification-polluted

Re: [Goanet] GOA LOKAYUKTA

[George Pinto]

The Office of the Lokayukta was a slim hope for Goans to achieve some justice. 
Unfortunately its powers were diminished and now Goans have less access to 
justice. What Goa needs is many Lokayukta judges to handle all the cases and 
massive scale of corruption. Primarily, land corruption is the source of all 
Goa's problems. The pandemic and closing of courts worked in the building 
mafia's favor. Every significant land transaction in Goa should be subject to a 
fully-empowered Lokayukta review. Also, isn't one of the problems lawyers 
involved in these land transactions? Are they part of the problem? Are they 
assisting the building mafia, politicians, panchayats, sarpanchs in the illegal 
transactions? Is there a list of honest lawyers in Goa who will refuse to be 
involved in selling Goa to the highest bidder? Please advise.


On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 02:31:22 AM PST, Aires Rodrigues 
 wrote: 

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/bakre-withdraws-consent-for-appt-as-goa-lokayukta/articleshow/81419480.cms

Re: [Goanet] Goan Foods

[George Pinto]

Doesn't "Bizarre Foods" refer to the name of the television show (a marketing 
gimmick) and not specifically to featured cuisines?

Regardless, Goans should not need whites to validate their food, especially 
with many mispronounced food names which reflects a lazy attempt to really 
showcase the food.  Although I suspect some "Stockholm syndrome" Goans give 
more credence when whites tell them what is good for Goans.

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop Eye Camp on Feb 14, 2021

[George Pinto]

Held in remote Goan village of Dabel  
https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/eye-camp-held-on-valentine-s-day-in-dabel

Goa Sudharop extended its COVID outreach with another Eye Camp on February 14, 
2021. Eye camps are held in Goa but rarely in remote places. During these COVID 
times where travel is not easy and affordable to people below the poverty line, 
Goa Sudharop has made a concerted effort to reach these residents and provide 
free access to eye care. This eye camp was held in the remote village of Dabel 
and for villagers in the Canacona area. Goa Sudharop's team of medical 
volunteers led by Dr. Sarvesh Sawant provided excellent care with medication 
and spectacles and identified patients in need of surgery. Since it was 
Valentine's Day, in the spirit of giving and love for the less fortunate, 
private well-wishers and sponsors through Goa Sudharop gifted children hampers 
containing stationery and treats while adults received flip flops.

[Goanet] Further destruction of Goa

[George Pinto]

Delhi driven policies designed to benefit non-Goans at the expense of Goans

https://www.goanobserver.in/2021/02/12/30-jetties-for-coal-transport/



 

Re: [Goanet] Where has the old Goa gone? (Shobhaa De, ToI)

[George Pinto]

See link below to Rajan's 2008 Documentary "Rape of Goa" warning of the sorry 
state of Goa then and prescient of much worse to come. 

https://www.parrikar.org/misc/rape-of-goa.mov

It is now 2021 and things have become a 100 times worse, making 2008 seem like 
the good old days.  If 2008 was the "Rape of Goa", then every other felony 
describes 2021.

Re: [Goanet] Where has the old Goa gone? (Shobhaa De, ToI)

[George Pinto]

Shohbaa De should tell us something we don't know. Too late now. Goans are 
primarily to blame for the devastation.

How Goa was lost to non-Goans:
The 1990s Maharashtrian recipe of agricultural land conversion to 
non-agricultural land was applied to Goa in high-steroid fashion. This model 
allowed for Goa's "development" and the illegal sale of Goan land to non-Goans.

The Konkan railway opened up travel which has led to the last 20-year invasion 
and an isolated Goa has become firmly connected to the rest of India with 
"infrastructure projects" like highways and double-rail lines imposed adhoc on 
Goa without regard to the wishes of Goans, environmental impact, etc. (Goans be 
damned, see below).

The ill-advised International Film Festival of India (IFFI) pushed by the late 
Manohar Parrikar which further opened up Goa to various social ills, casinos, 
etc. No Goan politician promised more for Goa and delivered almost nothing for 
Goans than the late CM.  I consider him most responsible for Goa's current 
sorry state of affairs - in that respect the most adversely consequential Goan 
politician of the last 20 years.

The wholesale looting of Goa resources (mines), including the current criminal 
coal enterprise.

The central govt. remotely running Goan affairs while Goan politicians polish 
their slippers and consider that an honor.

No Goa government of the last 20 years has been pro-Goan. Policies are 
deliberatively non-Goan. Goans be damned, they are not going to stand-up for 
themselves. Add in the criminal land mafia with ties to Delhi, Punjab, Dubai, 
Mumbai and effectively Goans are told "go to hell" (and not even politely) 
without law enforcement being on their side.

Question: who has been directly complicit in the devastation of Goa?  Answer: 
Goans.  No tears need to be shed now, they always knew better all along.

Btw, what has Shobhaa De done for Goa?  She should continue to enjoy Mumbai. 
Does she think Goa needs her little sojourn and trite comments.

Goa RIP

Best regards,
George

Re: [Goanet] Goans in cricket (worldwide)

[George Pinto]

India and Indian cricket include women ! Any Goan women played cricket for 
India or other countries?

Re: [Goanet] Goans in cricket (worldwide)

[George Pinto]

Naguesh, the upcoming Test series between India-England is for the Anthony de 
Mello trophy.  Anthony was born in Karachi and was better known as an 
administrator and Secretary of the BCCI rather than as a cricketer. Can you 
kindly let me know if he was an ethnic Goan (I believe he never lived in Goa).

Best regards,
George


On Friday, January 29, 2021, 11:23:56 AM PST, Naguesh Bhatcar 
 wrote: 

Namdev  Phadte was one of the finest from Goa in recent memory. He certainly 
had the potential to play for India.
Here is his story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/still-regret-choosing-life-in-abu-dhabi-over-indian-cricket-namdev-phadte/articleshow/65478577.cms


Naguesh Bhatcar

[Goanet] St. Joseph Vaz, Feast Day, Jan 16, 5; 30pm mass, California time

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE JOSEPH NAIK VAZ INSTITUTE
 
THE JANUARY 16 FEAST MASS OF AN INDIAN-SRI LANKAN FIRST RESPONDER AND SAINT ON 
YOUTUBE ON OUR WEBSITE www.josephnaikvaz.org
 
Special Intention for Healing from Covid-19 

We invite you to our live stream mass on Saturday, January 16, 2021 Feast Mass 
of St. Joseph Vaz, at 5:30 p.m. California time. The link for the live stream 
Mass is at  https://josephnaikvaz.org/  or  https://youtu.be/6N7aBq9capQ  This 
annual mass is offered for the feast of St. Joseph Vaz and the beatification of 
Ven.Fr. Agnelo.

It will be offered by Rev. Fr. Olvin Veigas S.J. from the Immaculate Heart of 
Mary Church at St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore. Our main Intention this year is 
to pray for the victims of Covid-19 and their families, for First Responders, 
for national leaders to make wise policies, in Thanksgiving for vaccines, and 
Healing from Covid-19.
 
The single most consuming concern for humanity in 2020 has been the Coronavirus 
- Covid19 - pandemic affecting 218 countries and territories around the world. 
We invite you to say our Prayer for Healing from Covid-19 through the 
intercession of St. Joseph Vaz, a saintly model for First Responders, which is 
on our website, see https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/957

In all this, we are thankful for First Responders and frontline workers who 
provide those affected by this pandemic with health care and services, often 
with a risk to their own lives.  We ask you to read our article on our website 
about St. Joseph Vaz, as an Indian-Sri Lankan First Responder when he nursed 
the abandoned victims during the smallpox epidemic in 1697 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, 
see https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/974
 
As well as our own Feast Mass, Bishop Oscar Cantü of San Jose, Archbishop Peter 
Machado of Bangalore, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha of Mangalore, and Bishop 
Michael Barber S.J. of Oakland, California are offering Masses for the Feast of 
St. Joseph Vaz and for Covid–19 intentions. 
 
If you have any questions about the Feast Mass we are offering on January 16, 
please email josephnaik@gmail.com

Thank you.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/972

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop: Promoting & reviving Goa's traditions - the Goan "Pao"

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop is committed to the sustainable economic development of Goa and 
the preservation of Goan heritage and Goan traditions. We are pleased to 
support an online "Pao" making class this coming Saturday, January 16, 2021, 
from 5pm-9pm (Indian Standard time). This is a live class on Zoom which is 
available worldwide, so please adjust the time to your local time. 

This class is supported by Goa Sudharop (www.goasudharop.net) to promote the 
much loved Goan cultural tradition of Pao. Proud to state that more than 1000 
Poders have been created in Goa and worldwide.

Duration: Four-hour from 5PM-9PM IST online demonstration class on ZOOM with 
after class support once enrolled.
Price: Rs. 2500/- (USD $39, Euro €35) Payment information will be informed on 
enrolling.
Email: alisonjanel...@gmail.com or WhatsApp Alison on +91 8554054640

Due to the current Pandemic, it is not possible to conduct our in-person 
classes. In view of the importance that “MISSION GOENCHO PAO!!!” needs to go 
on, and also considering numerous requests from Goans and others all over the 
globe, it has been decided to hold online classes as outlined below.
By increasing the number of Poders around the world and ensuring continuity in 
dissemination of the century’s old art and secrets, we can help the mission to 
save our precious Goan Pao from extinction. 

Minimum Equipment required:
1. Basic OTG Oven.
2. Dough Mixer/ hand kneading.
3. Weighing scale and other implements found commonly at home.

Curriculum:
Time tested and proven recipes including online support after the course and 
our Poder group membership where you will be continuously updated by shared 
innovations and experiences.
Practical instructions include working with different kinds of healthy flours 
to make:
a) SUR POIE (Age old tradition using Toddy instead of yeast).
b) GOAN POIE also known as Kundia Bhakri) using yeast, wheat bran and Nachne 
(Ragi /finger millet).
c) UNDES famous goan round bread.
d) KATRE PAO (also known as KONCHECHE or REVDO) traditional to Ribandar, Old 
Goa and some other localized regions in South Goa.
e) LADI PAO (square bread).
f) KAKON ( Bangle bread).
g) PAOZINHO stuffed and unstuffed.
h) SWEET BUNS traditional goan.
i) SLICED BREAD
J)LAM PÃO ( Used for cutlet bread)

Be a part of the mission, learn to make your own Goencho Pao at home and keep 
your families safe 

Visit 
https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/reviving-the-goan-pao-1561099238754.html

[Goanet] Posro (shop) opened by Goa Sudharop in Margao for low-income and needy on Dec 22, 2020

[George Pinto]

Please see photos at this link and write-up below

https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/goa-sudharop-launches-posro-to-promote-and-support-traditional-goan-food-farm-produce-and-crafts

Goa Sudharop Launches Posro To Promote And Support Traditional Goan Food, Farm 
Produce And Crafts

As part of of its ongoing COVID assistance to Goans, Goa Sudharop opened a 
unique POSRO (shop) in Margao, Goa on December 22, 2020 to help traditional 
Goan artisans such as farmers, cooks, bakers, potters and others can sell their 
products (traditional Goan food, spices, sweets, organic vegetables, farm 
produce, etc.). The need for jobs and income in this pandemic is important and 
Goa Sudharop is providing the store space free to the various vendors. 

According to Goa Sudharop volunteer Irene Almeida, "Posro by Goa Sudharop" is a 
social initiative empowering Goans to showcase their skills, talents and 
expertise as the Goa Sudharop supported platform helps Goans earn a living. At 
the same time, Goa Sudharop intends to revive Goan traditions and pass on our 
legacy for generations to come. At Posro we respect the hands which toil to 
bring the food to our tables, hence we felicitated a padekar (traditional 
coconut plucker Pedro Pereira), xetkamti (farmer Anthonetta Fernandez) and a 
randpin (traditional cook Manikbai Naik) who inaugurated and opened the Posro 
as our special, favored guests. In Goa Sudharop's 20 year history, we cater to 
the common person, usually the forgotten Goan below the poverty line and 
intentionally no politician or other so-called dignitaries have been special 
guests at our events. 
Some of the products available include homemade oil, vinegar, jaggery, home 
ground masala such as Xacuti, Ambottik, Recheado and Jeeremire. Also, Goan 
grown spices, cereals, rice, millets, cowpeas along with organically grown 
fruits and vegetables are also for sale - please note items vary over time 
based on availability.

Mouth-watering dishes such as Pez with kalchi kodi, mori ambotik, fezoado, Appa 
de camarao, Chicken Xacuti, Kotkothe, Kismur, Tisreo sukhe, Bangdho recheado, 
to name a few are also available. In addition, authentic Goan sweets made or 
baked the traditional way were sold, specially Christmas sweets were the main 
attraction at this time of year.

Posro has a Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/Posro-104699381538618 do 
like and follow them for updates. They are open for constructive feedback. We 
want to reach out to the remote areas of Goa to promote the farmers and 
artisans and they look forward to your patronage. Please show your love and 
support to keep the Goan legacy alive which gives our Goenkars immense JOY and 
HOPE as they benefit from this initiative. 

Address: POSRO, Shop No 1, Carvalho Apartments, Behind LIC Building, Comba, 
Margao, Goa. 

Other Goa Sudharop COVID projects at this link  
https://www.goasudharop.net/covid-assistance

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop: COVID Assistance

[George Pinto]

 Please see this link for our COVID assistance outreach in Goa 
https://www.goasudharop.net/covid-assistance

Free Eye Camps in Goa in December 2020 - 
https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/goa-sudharop-covid-assistance-eye-camps

As part of Goa Sudharop's continuing Covid Assistance in Goa which began in 
April 2020, we are pleased to organize free eye camps for below poverty line 
people who cannot afford basic travel to go to doctors and pay for medical 
care. The first eye camp was held on December 6th in Orlim. Other eye camps 
will follow in Varca, Cormona, Quepem, Paroda and Canacona. These eye camps are 
organized and led by Irene Almeida and the Goa Sudharop volunteer team in Goa. 
Fifty-two residents of Orlim and the surrounding villages were successfully 
helped on December 6th. Goa Sudharop would like to convey its immense gratitude 
to all the volunteers, to SUN PHARMA who donated eye drops and supported the 
eye camp, to our Goa-based volunteer medical services team, especially to Dr. 
Sarvesh Sawant who donated his services and for his past volunteer work for Goa 
Sudharop during this pandemic, and to KOHINOOR OPTICALS who donated the 
spectacles/glasses free to the patients. 

Goa Sudharop appreciates all the donated time, effort, services, and in-kind 
contributions from everyone and considers it a privilege to support needy 
Goans. So many have supported and contributed with much compassion and great 
purpose to make these eye camps possible. A special thank you to our volunteer 
Irene Almeida for heading this initiative and her team for bringing together 
all the resources needed and for developing, coordinating and organizing the 
event with great purpose and discipline.

Re: [Goanet] Goan-American Input Required

[George Pinto]

Roland, three words "follow the money".  

For the right-wing, how do you make money:
Military industrial-complex and fake wars, being anti-Muslim, anti-gay, 
anti-black, anti-women, anti-minorities. Keep the hate going which generates TV 
viewership, book deals, etc. Politics is a $$$ business. Faux (Fox) News and 
the right-wing haters know how to fleece people. Look how much money Trump is 
making off his cult, challenging the election even though everyone knows he 
lost. The right-wing knows how to monetize hate. If you have zero morals, zero 
integrity, then grift and lies is not a sin.  So when you ask about whether 
lies, narcissism, infantile behavior matters, no it does not - it is actually 
the means towards the end.

For the left-wing, also follow the money:
How does one get votes? Promise free things to a lot of people and then tax the 
rich to pay the bills (although deficit spending is popular - who cares about 
robbing future generations and saddling them with debt - everyone pays lip 
service about our future and children, but no one really cares - besides 
economic destruction, environmental destruction). So promise a lot of freebies 
and get votes.

Cynical, but true. Same with Goa... follow the money, currently all Goa's major 
ills tie in to land corruption which Goans are completely complicit in.


The world is not complicated to understand when you  follow the money.

Btw, you also understand, organized religion is often about power and money 
 only the naive think it is only about spirituality, humanity and 
salvation.  Here too .. follow the money ... how many church lands sold to 
builders or illegally transacted?  

George



On Saturday, December 5, 2020, 11:16:22 AM PST, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

A question I still ask myself today is why a liar, narcissist and infantile 
behaving man who operates with no care to gigantic conflicts of interest, can 
command such loyal obedience among a large section of Americans even after 
constant exposure by the media. Not only that, why are they able to tolerate 
the complete degradation of their country’s reputation throughout the world at 
the whims and lunacies of this man.

I really look forward to genuine input from Goans in America who are readers 
and posters  of Goanet no matter how unpalatable their views might seem to be, 
to me, that might help me to understand this Trump phenomenon. 

What GOP Members of Congress think of Trump’s election fraud claims - 
Washington Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/congress-republicans-trump-election-claims/


Roland.

Re: [Goanet] Trump says he's 'ashamed' he endorsed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp

[George Pinto]

Yes, the whole world is ashamed of Donny-boy Trump. May be his family too. Sad. 
Bigly total loser who cannot win even while losing by being an international 
disgrace.

Re: [Goanet] TRUMP the UNREPENTANT RACIST

[George Pinto]

Sorry, this link should work 
https://www.thedailybeast.com/mehdi-hasan-is-sick-of-racist-bill-mahers-nonsense


On Sunday, November 29, 2020, 03:13:36 PM PST, BT Yahoo Mail 
 wrote: 

George, 
The link you suggested in unavailable.
Eddie

 -- Original Message --
From: "George Pinto" 
To: "GOANET" 
 
Eddie, Mehdi Hasan is courageous, not afraid to call out the political and 
media class. Please see this article 
https://www.thedailybeast.com/mehdi-hasan-is-sick-of-racist-bill-mahers-nonsense
  and also click on the links in the article to see some of the interviews he 
has done. He asks tough questions and challenges the pro-Israel view of the 
Middle East, including calling out Islamophobia. After you are done reading, I 
hope you can provide a summary for readers of this forum.

Best regards,
George


On Saturday, November 28, 2020, 01:01:34 PM PST, BT Yahoo Mail 
 wrote: 

Thanks, George, for that bold & brilliant post from Mehdi Hasan. I didn't have 
his email, so couldn't copy this to him. He is a remarkable writer and has 
written on a range of subjects with a refreshingly original perspective. We 
Goans, on the other hand, can go no further than call Trump 'worst', 'liar, 
'narcissist' and such, and then return to our masses and novenas 

[Goanet] Baby Trump

[George Pinto]

Donny Trump, at his baby desk, threw his typical baby tantrum. Here is the 
worst President in history in 2 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVwfJ9n1wLc_channel=TheChoice


I wonder if New York state will send him to jail based on the cases they are 
handling.


On Saturday, November 28, 2020, 05:59:09 AM PST, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

Unless you are the mafia, one never demands respect, one earns it.

This man Trump, a serial liar and narcissist, earns nothing but scorn, ridicule 
and contempt from any decent person. 

Roland. 

Roland Francis
416-453-3371

[Goanet] Out of this world football

[George Pinto]

Diego Maradona, rest in peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wVho3I0NtU

[Goanet] Honoring a Goan trailblazer

[George Pinto]

2011 Iron Chef winner Floyd Cardoz passed away in March this year.  His 
enormous contribution to world cuisine, especially exposing the world to Goan 
food is documented in the many tributes to him at this link  
https://www.floydcardoz.com/tributes

To celebrate his achievements and honor his memory, some of his signature 
spices and cookbooks are available for purchase at this link  
https://www.burlapandbarrel.com/products/floyd-cardoz-masalas?sscid=b1k4_2zt6q& 
 $1 of every jar sold is donated to "Cookies for Kids Cancer",  
https://cookiesforkidscancer.org/  If you have any questions regarding 
purchasing the spices or cookbooks, please contact Kathryn Boyden at 
kath...@burlapandbarrel.com

For more information on Floyd, see https://www.floydcardoz.com/  Many of his 
cooking demos are on YouTube. May his memory live on through his great love and 
pride of Goan cuisine.

Please forward this email to your contacts. Thank you.

Goa Sudharop
https://www.goasudharop.net/

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop: Promoting & reviving Goa's traditions - the Goan "Pao"

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop is committed to the sustainable economic development of Goa and 
the preservation of Goan heritage and Goan traditions. We are pleased to 
support an online "Pao" making class this Sunday, September 13, 2020, from 
5-9pm (Indian Standard time). This is a live class on Zoom which is available 
worldwide, so please adjust the time to your local time. 

ALLY'S GOENCHO PÃO CLASS - I'm a Poder... are you??  "Proud to state that more 
than 1000  Poders have been created in Goa and worldwide".
Goa's well known "Pao" maker Alison Jane Lobo will host the class. 

Details:
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2020
Duration: Four-hour class from 5-9pm (Indian Standard Time).Hosted online 
demonstration class on ZOOM.Price: Rs. 2,500/-. Payment can be made in Rupees 
(Rs. 2,500/-), US dollars ($39), Euros (€35), etc. and will be provided on 
enrolling by emailing alisonjanel...@gmail.com or WhatsApp Alison on 
+918554054640

Due to the current Pandemic it is not possible to conduct in-person classes.. 
In view of the importance that “MISSION GOENCHO PAO!!!” needs to go on, and 
also considering numerous requests from Goans and others all over the globe, it 
has been decided to hold online classes as outlined above. Over 1,000+ have 
taken the class. By increasing the number of Poders around the world and 
ensuring continuity in dissemination of the century’s old art and secrets, we 
can help the mission to save our precious Goan Pao from extinction.

Minimum Equipment required:
1. Basic OTG Oven.
2. Dough Mixer/ hand kneading.
3. Weighing scale and other implements found commonly at home.

Curriculum:Time tested and proven recipes including online support after the 
course and our Poder group membership where you will be continuously updated by 
shared innovations and experiences.Practical instructions include working with 
different kinds of healthy flours to make:
a) SUR POIE (Age old tradition using Toddy instead of yeast and fruit yeast 
method).
b) GOAN POIE (also known as Kundia Bhakri) using yeast, wheat bran and Nachne 
(Ragi /finger millet).
c) UNDES famous goan round bread.
d) KATRE PAO (also known as KONCHECHE or REVDO) traditional to Ribandar, Old 
Goa and some other localized regions in South Goa.
e) LADI PAO (square bread).
f) KAKON (Bangle bread).
g) PAOZINHO (stuffed and unstuffed)
h) SWEET BUNS (Stuffed and unstuffed)
i) SLICED BREAD
J) LAM PÃO ( Used for cutlet bread)

Be a part of the mission, learn to make your own Goencho Pao at home and keep 
your families safe 

Visit 
https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/reviving-the-goan-pao-1561099238754.html

Goa Sudharop
www.goasudharop.net

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop's Continued Pandemic Response in Goa

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop's Continued Pandemic Response in Goa

See 
https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/08/19/Goa-Sudharops-Continued-Pandemic-Response-in-Goa

In connection with Goa Sudharop's ongoing outreach during the pandemic in Goa, 
100 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) outfits were donated  this month to 
frontline workers at the Margao Hospicio (hospital). These warriors are our 
Goan heroes/heroines committed to protecting the health of Goans.

Goa Sudharop's Executive Representative, Verma D'Mello, delivered the PPE on 
behalf of Goa Sudharop. The PPE was made by women in conjunction with Goa 
Sudharop's Thread-Up project which provides under-privileged Goan women an 
opportunity to earn an income. The materials and sewing machines have been 
donated by Goa Sudharop through the kind generosity of donors.

Goa Sudharop
www.goasudharop.net

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop Farm project

[George Pinto]

In June 2020, Goa Sudharop in partnership with Mrs. Zita D'Mello, launched the 
"Goa Sudharop Farm Project" to allow under-privileged Goan women earn an income 
by growing fruit & vegetables on her land in South Goa. This project is one of 
many initiatives Goa Sudharop has launched since its inception 20 years ago 
which include various projects, programmes, and events to help Goa and Goans. 

https://www.goasudharop.net/farm-project

https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/08/17/Goa-Sudharop-Farm-Project

Due to the current pandemic situation, the resulting loss of jobs and the need 
for locally sourced food, this project attempts to allow under-privileged Goan 
women to grow organic food/produce in an eco-friendly manner and earn an income 
as Goa tries to restore its neglected agricultural sector and meet its current 
need. The women were selected through the village panchayat out of a list of 
100+.
 
The farm project was initially launched in Orlim with Mrs. Zita D'Mello on 
1,000 square meters and 5 women growing vegetables. With the success of the 
project, Mrs. Zita D'Mello has now offered another 1,000 square meters to 
accommodate the increasing demand of women who are interested and in need of 
work. The land is offered free of cost to be cultivated by the women. 
 
An additional plot of land in Carmona offered by Mrs. Braganza is also being 
cultivated. Four women in the paddy fields and three in a vegetable field are 
cultivating the land with Mrs. Braganza who is also actively working with them 
in the fields. 
 
Goa Sudharop has provided the seeds, eco-friendly and organic based 
fertilizers, tools, other expenses, etc. In addition, a lunch meal (Goan pez - 
rice meal) is provided to the women while they work. The produce generated so 
far has already been sold by the women at local bazaars and they keep the 
proceeds. 
 
In summary:
1. A person(s) allows their previously unused land to be used free of cost. 
This kind soul retains all legal title to the land.
2. Goa Sudharop supplies the cost of cultivation (seeds, eco-friendly and 
organic based fertilizers, tools, meals, other expenses, etc.).
3. The women who cultivate the land, sell the produce locally and keep the 
proceeds.
A win-win-win for everyone involved.
 
Due to so many people unemployed under the current pandemic and the need for 
locally sourced food, it is expected this Goa-based project will grow in the 
future. To use the available land well, Goa Sudharop has engaged the help of an 
expert from the Agricultural Department who will later train women in 
hydroponics cultivation which will be adapted to Goa, see general information 
on Hydroponics at 
https://www.freshwatersystems.com/blogs/blog/what-are-hydroponic-systems
 
Thank you to all the volunteers, donors, supporters of this project.
 
https://www.goasudharop.net/farm-project

https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/08/17/Goa-Sudharop-Farm-Project

Goa Sudharop
 

Re: [Goanet] World Goa Day 2020

[George Pinto]

Colin, do not be fooled. History and facts are important and matter.  World Goa 
Day was initiated and started by Goa Sudharop. The idea was proposed by 
Filomena Giese, co-Founder of Goa Sudharop. Goa Sudharop paid for the initial 
set-up (website design, logo, domain, etc,) as one of Goa Sudharop's projects. 
I had initially suggested Jan 1 as the date - a new year, a new beginning for 
Goans. The late Jorge Noronha (Portugal) suggested August 20 to coincide with 
Konkani being made the official language of Goa (1992). Goa Sudharop heavily 
promoted the idea of WGD. Rene was a Goa Sudharop advisor at that time but with 
a failure of character Rene brought the publicity to himself and has never 
acknowledged or corrected the record and promoted WGD as his own, never 
contributing a single penny (I hear this is still the case). I personally 
drafted many of the publicity emails Rene sent out, including articles for WGD. 
 For the record, Goa Sudharop did the initial work to launch WGD and I 
personally spent a lot more time than Rene to get WGD off the ground.

So why has no credit has been given to Goa Sudharop? This is typical of some 
Goans who talk a good game about co-operation, unity but take all the credit.  
Then they ask why Goans are backward compared to other communities and Goans 
cannot move forward in unity,


On Sunday, August 9, 2020, 07:45:38 AM PDT, colin d'cruz 
 wrote: 

Jazz Goa has produced a two hour scheduled video broadcast on the 15th of 
August 2020 to co-celebrate Independence Day and the 20th anniversary of 'World 
Goa Day' initiated by Mr. Rene Baretto. This broadcast is a compilation of 
Goa's popular Konkani and Portuguese songs featuring some of Goa's most 
accomplished singers like Zezinho Fernandes, Seby Fernandes, Veeam Braganza, 
Donna Noronha, Queenie Fernandes and Verphina Dias to name a few.
This broadcast features back to back songs carefully compiled into a seamless, 
entertaining  show flow. Log on to Jazz Goa's YouTube Channel on the 15th of 
August at 8pm for an entertaining glimpse of Goa!

Re: [Goanet] Fandom and Cancel Culture (Anish Esteves)

[George Pinto]

More on cancel culture in case someone is interested in further reading on the 
topic -

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/07/cancel-culture-and-problem-woke-capitalism/614086/

https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/12/30/20879720/what-is-cancel-culture-explained-history-debate

Re: [Goanet] Just A Theory Why Goan Women Do Not Contribute to Goanet

[George Pinto]

Goan women are busy working. Goan men are on discussion forums - like being in 
a bar & wasting their life away. 


On Monday, June 29, 2020, 07:53:37 AM PDT, Adolfo Mascarenhas 
 wrote: 

It struck me that very few Goan Women contribute in this Forum.  I have seen an 
occasional pieceits rare though.    ...very rare. Yet, there are women 
authors, reporters  etc .professionals including  lawyers, doctors, housewives  
professors footballers etc  

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE -   Joseph Naik Vaz Institute launches “Truth, Racial Justice, 
and Racial Reconciliation” initiative

Statement on Racism and “Black Lives Matter”

https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/885

The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute worked for the canonization of St. Joseph Vaz 
since 1978. H.H. Pope Francis canonized St. Joseph Vaz in January 2015.  The 
Institute is committed to inter-religious harmony and peace among all 
communities, especially racial justice in today's world.  We are pleased to 
launch our St. Joseph Vaz Inter-Racial and Inter-Religious “Truth, Racial 
Justice, and Racial Reconciliation” initiative to heal the racial divide.  More 
information on this initiative will be made available in the coming months.

1. As followers of an Indian Saint, St Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), better known 
as “Apostle of Kanara (Mangalore) and Sri Lanka”, we strongly condemn the 
string of violent killings of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement 
in the United States.  

2. St. Joseph Vaz was a priest who served people of diverse races, 
languages, cultures and traditions.  He  resisted racism and casteism within 
the Church while being a great Christian missionary.

3. He was a non-colonial missionary who entered Sri Lanka, disguised as a 
laborer, and came without colonial armies and resources to minister to 
Catholics who were left without priests and religious rites when the Portuguese 
were defeated by the Dutch in the 17th century.  He did not come to conquer and 
subjugate anyone.

4. He respected and served people of all races, castes, and religion in his 
humanitarian service during the small pox epidemic in Kandy as well as 
throughout his ministry.  He won the admiration and protection of the Buddhist 
King of Kandy, Vimaladharma Surya II.

 5. Among the Catholics persecuted by the Dutch authorities in Sri Lanka 
whom he ministered to and served, were African slave converts whose mixed-race 
descendants today still maintain devotion to him.  

 6. We believe that All Lives Are Sacred, but in the present circumstances 
we respect the movement known as “Black Lives Matter” for the protection of 
African Americans from being killed through unnecessary violent police action.

 7. We support all peaceful protests for a change in public and private 
policy toward African Americans and people of color, ensuring them equality in 
jobs, economic opportunities, housing, education, and compassionate treatment.

8. We send our compassionate greetings to our African American brothers and 
sisters as we work for respect for diversity and inclusion of native cultures 
and traditions.  We invite everyone to support and participate in an inclusive 
St. Joseph Vaz Inter-Racial and Inter-Religious “Truth, Racial Justice, and 
Racial Reconciliation” initiative to see what we can all do to repair the 
damage done to people of color, especially to Native Americans and descendants 
of African slaves.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://www.josephnaikvaz.org

Re: [Goanet] Goa Sudharop and the pandemic in Goa

[George Pinto]

Hi Roland, thank you for your kind words. Good to see a fellow Goan publicly 
appreciate the work done. 

Best regards,
George

On Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 07:10:17 AM PDT, Roland Francis 
 wrote: 

Goa Sudharop has done a wonderful job.

Roland.
Toronto.

> On Jun 17, 2020, at 2:15 AM, George Pinto  wrote:

> > PRESS RELEASE -

> > See 
> > https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/06/16/Goa-Sudharop-and-the-pandemic-in-Goa

> > In connection with Goa Sudharop's outreach during the pandemic in Goa, 17 
> > low-income families were given groceries and vegetables. During the 
> > lockdown we served milk, biscuits, fruits, eggs and juice to impoverished 
> > children. Water in tankers was supplied to a village in need. In addition, 
> > Goa Sudharop has provided an opportunity to underprivileged women to make 
> > hand-painted and embroidered masks which will be sold helping them to earn 
> > a living. PPE is being provided to frontline doctors and others. Dr. 
> > Sarvesh Sawant, as part of Goa Sudharop's volunteer medical team urgently 
> > attended to patients recommended by Goa Sudharop at no cost to the 
> > patients. Thank you to Dr. Sawant for his generous help and also thank you 
> > to all the donors and volunteers who made this happen.  And a BIG thank you 
> > to Verma D"Mello for organizing and coordinating the entire effort.

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop and the pandemic in Goa

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE - 

See 
https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/06/16/Goa-Sudharop-and-the-pandemic-in-Goa

In connection with Goa Sudharop's outreach during the pandemic in Goa, 17 
low-income families were given groceries and vegetables. During the lockdown we 
served milk, biscuits, fruits, eggs and juice to impoverished children. Water 
in tankers was supplied to a village in need. In addition, Goa Sudharop has 
provided an opportunity to underprivileged women to make hand-painted and 
embroidered masks which will be sold helping them to earn a living. PPE is 
being provided to frontline doctors and others. Dr. Sarvesh Sawant, as part of 
Goa Sudharop's volunteer medical team urgently attended to patients recommended 
by Goa Sudharop at no cost to the patients. Thank you to Dr. Sawant for his 
generous help and also thank you to all the donors and volunteers who made this 
happen.  And a BIG thank you to Verma D"Mello for organizing and coordinating 
the entire effort.

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop: Mental Health Information

[George Pinto]

Goa Sudharop is commemorating its 20th year of working for the development of 
Goa and Goans. This year has presented unique challenges throughout the world 
and we cannot be dormant when there is much at stake. From providing food to 
Goan villagers suffering because of the pandemic, to providing PPE to front 
line workers in Goa, to our recently launched "Goa Sudharop Farm project" for 
low-income Goans, to other initiatives in the works, we recognize this is the 
time to continue to assist Goa & Goans.

We understand the ongoing health pandemic, school closures, economic 
uncertainty, work disruption, job losses, and societal changes in the wake of 
the murder of George Floyd, have caused much upheaval and anxiety, resulting in 
mental health issues affecting people. In some cases, Goans may feel helpless 
about the present and hopeless about the future. Outreach on mental health 
issues is critical to those who need it. Please see article at 
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/5/29/21274495/pandemic-cdc-mental-health
and resources from the article below.

If you or anyone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, or is anxious, 
depressed, upset, or needs to talk, there are people who want to help:

In the US:
Crisis Text Line: Text CRISIS to 741741 for free, confidential crisis counseling
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Outside the US:

The International Association for Suicide Prevention lists a number of suicide 
hotlines by country. Click here to find them 
https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/

Re: [Goanet] GOA’S SCARCE LAND NEEDS TO BE SAFEGUARDED FOR POSTERITY

[George Pinto]

Isn't the idea of preserving Goan land 20 years too late? Haven't the builders 
and their political supporters and chamcas facilitated the looting of Goan land 
for the last 20 years? Where has the legal profession been all these years? Has 
the legal profession been complicit by aiding and abetting illegal land 
transactions which are regularized through the panchayats, TCP, and other 
government entities? Which Goan lawyers have been ethical and stood up for the 
common man and the rule of law and not engaged in any illegal land transaction? 
Name them.

On Sunday, June 14, 2020, 04:51:08 PM PDT, Aires Rodrigues 
 wrote: 

Revenue Minister Jennifer Monseratte has a duty to please explain as to how 
scarce Goa land is being blatantly sold to all and sundry instead of being 
preserved to cater to the needs of Goans.

[Goanet] Promoting & reviving Goa's traditions - the Goan "Pao"

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE -

Goa Sudharop is committed to the sustainable economic development of Goa and 
the preservation of Goan heritage and Goan traditions. We are pleased to 
support an online "Pao" making class this Saturday, June 13 from 10am-1pm 
(Indian Standard time). This is a live class on Zoom which is available 
worldwide, so adjust the time to your local time. For example, if you live in 
California, this 3-hour class will start on Friday, June 12 at 9:30pm.

Goa's well known "Pao" maker Alison Jane Lobo will host the class. Details:
 
ALLY'S GOENCHO PÃO CLASSDate: Saturday, June 13, 2020Duration: Three-hour class 
from 10am-1pm (IST).
Hosted online demonstration class on ZOOM.
Price: Rs. 2500/-. Payment can be made in Rupees, $$, Euros, etc. and will be 
provided on enrolling by emailing alisonjanel...@gmail.com or WhatsApp Alison 
on +918554054640

Due to the current Pandemic it is not possible to conduct in-person classes. In 
view of the importance that “MISSION GOENCHO PAO!!!” needs to go on, and also 
considering numerous requests from Goans and others all over the globe, it has 
been decided to hold online classes as outlined above. Over 1,000+ have taken 
the class. By increasing the number of Poders around the world and ensuring 
continuity in dissemination of the century’s old art and secrets, we can help 
the mission to save our precious Goan Pao from extinction.

Minimum Equipment required:
1. Basic OTG Oven.
2. Dough Mixer/ hand kneading.
3. Weighing scale and other implements found commonly at home.

Curriculum:Time tested and proven recipes including online support after the 
course and our Poder group membership where you will be continuously updated by 
shared innovations and experiences.Practical instructions include working with 
different kinds of healthy flours to make:
1) SUR POIE (Age old tradition using Toddy instead of yeast).
2) GOAN POIE (also known as Kundia Bhakri) using yeast, wheat bran and Nachne 
(Ragi /finger millet).
3) UNDES famous goan round bread.
4) KATRE PAO (also known as KONCHECHE or REVDO) traditional to Ribandar, Old 
Goa and some other localized regions in South Goa.
5) LADI PAO (Square bread).
6) KAKON (Bangle bread).
7) PAOZINHO stuffed and unstuffed.
8) SWEET BUNS - traditional Goan.
9) Sliced bread.

Goa Sudharop
www.goasudharop.net

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop Farm Project

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE -

Goa Sudharop in partnership with Mrs. Zita D'Mello, announce the launch of a 
3-year project to allow under-privileged Goan women to earn an income by 
growing fruit & vegetables on her land in South Goa. This project will be 
called the "Goa Sudharop Farm Project" and is the latest initiative Goa 
Sudharop has undertaken since its inception 20 years ago in a long line of 
various projects, programmes, and events to help Goa and Goans. 

Due to the current pandemic situation and the resulting loss of jobs and the 
need for locally sourced food, this project attempts to allow under-privileged 
Goan women to grow food/produce and earn an income as Goa tries to restore its 
neglected agricultural sector and meet its current need. 

Mrs Zita Dmello has kindly donated the hire of her land at no cost to Goa 
Sudharop from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2023. Goa Sudharop will provide the 
seeds, fertilizers and other expenses. We will engage Goa's leading 
horticulturists to consult pro-bono on this project. The food/produce will be 
sold in the local farmers market. Almost all the income derived will go to the 
under-privileged Goan women and a very small portion will be retained and 
reinvested in this project.

Goa Sudharop 
https://www.goasudharop.net/

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop Covid 19 project

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE - Goa Sudharop launches new project with fashion designer Verma 
D'Mello

Goa Sudharop Covid 19 project

Goa Sudharop's Thread-Up team based in Goa is a partnership between Goa 
Sudharop and Goan fashion designer Verma D'Mello which trains village women in 
the clothing industry. They are going to make and donate various types of 
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed for different categories of 
frontline workers in Goa to help them stay safe and protect their health during 
this Covid-19 pandemic. 

We also appreciate all the risk being taken by garbage collectors and so safe 
PPE wear is being designed specially for them too.

The protective masks and gowns will be made from unspunbonded polypropylene 
fabrics as it restricts transmission. These items will be made by the village 
women trained by Ms. Verma D'Mello on sewing machines donated by Goa Sudharop.

Goa Sudharop had previously provided food to Goan villagers impacted by the 
pandemic
https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/04/12/Goa-Sudharop-Provides-Food-to-Goan-Villagers

Goa Sudharop

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute

[George Pinto]

April 21, 2020 is the 369th Anniversary of birth of St. Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), 
Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka.

April 21, 2020 is tragically also the First Anniversary of the bombings of 
Churches and hotels in Sri Lanka last year on Easter Sunday which happened to 
fall on the Birthday of St. Joseph Vaz.  

Bishop Michael Barber, S.J. of Oakland Diocese will celebrate the Holy 
Eucharist that our Joseph Naik Vaz Institute and devotees of St. Joseph Vaz are 
offering at Oakland's Cathedral of Christ the Light on April 26, 2020 at 11 
a.m. in memory of the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday tragedy. 

Please watch the Live stream on April 26th at 11 a.m. on the Cathedral's 
Facebook website at http://www.ctlcathedral.org

Let us all join Bishop Barber in praying for the victims in Sri Lanka as well 
as for the victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and for all medical first 
responders around the world who are heroically taking care of those critically 
ill and dying, just as St. Joseph Vaz looked after the abandoned victims of the 
small pox epidemic in Kandy in 1697-98.  

Please donate to Cathedral of Christ the Light on its website to support the 
work of the Cathedral which generously sent their Easter Mass donation last 
year for the victims of the Sri Lankan bombings.  

We send our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Most Reverend Bishop Barber 
S.J. and to the Rector of the Cathedral, the Reverend Brandon Macadaeg for 
their prayers and support. 

We invite you to visit our website http://www.josephnaikvaz.org for a Life 
sketch and articles about St. Joseph Vaz as well as the link 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/736 for last year's Memorial at the Jesuit 
School of Theology, GTU in Berkeley, California.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
Berkeley, California

Re: [Goanet] Trump Dumbf

[George Pinto]

It is satire, but inside Trump's warped mind, he believes his own stupidity as 
true. However, what is worse, a number of his supporters actually believe his 
nonsense.


On Tuesday, April 14, 2020, 12:55:24 AM PDT, Naguesh Bhatcar 
 wrote: 

This is a piece of satire, written by Andy Borowitz of the New Yorker.
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-optimistic-about-winning-nobel-prize-in-medicine

Andy Borowitz is a Times 
best-selling author and a comedian who has written for The New Yorker since 
1998. He writes The Borowitz 
Report, a satirical column on 
the news.

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop delivers food to Goan villagers

[George Pinto]

https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/04/12/Goa-Sudharop-Provides-Food-to-Goan-Villagers

During these difficult times and the lock-down in Goa, International Fashion 
Designer and Goan philanthropist, Verma D'Mello, arranged to feed some 
villagers in Goa through Goa Sudharop.  Verma and her team delivered food to 
some villagers who have experienced scarcity of essential food items. Thanks to 
all those who have helped and supported this important effort.

https://www.goasudharop.net/single-post/2020/04/12/Goa-Sudharop-Provides-Food-to-Goan-Villagers

Goa Sudharop
http://www.goasudharop.net

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute

[George Pinto]

Dear Friends and Devotees of St. Joseph Vaz (1651-1711) Apostle of Kanara 
(India) and Sri Lanka:

Churches holding Easter Sunday services and hotels with many tourists and 
visitors were bombed in Sri Lanka this time last year resulting in a tragic 
loss of life including children, and devastating injuries to survivors. We 
invite you to join us in remembering these many bombing victims and their 
families at the 11 a.m. Mass which will be live-streamed on Sunday, April 26 at 
Oakland's Cathedral of Christ the Light in California. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mass is a closed Mass and not open to the 
public. The live-stream of the Mass and the related live-stream link is 
available on the Cathedral website at https://ctlcathedral.org/

Last year, the Most Rev. Bishop Michael Barber, S.J. of the Diocese of Oakland 
offered Easter Mass for the victims of this tragedy and generously sent the 
collection to Cardinal Ranjith of Sri Lanka to help the Sri Lankan recovery 
effort. We are honored that Bishop Barber will be the celebrant of this Mass to 
prayerfully remember the precious lives lost in this Sri Lankan tragedy. We are 
also asking your prayers for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic, their 
families and all the healthcare workers at the forefront of the effort to save 
lives. In a similar situation of an epidemic without a cure and without any 
known medical protection for health workers, St. Joseph Vaz worked for two 
years during the smallpox epidemic of 1697-1698 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, tending to 
the abandoned victims, with only one other Indian priest to help him.  In your 
community, please consider making masks and gowns, donating, contributing to 
food pantries and the many social services which are needed.

We pray for all those who have died and for the healing of other victims of 
these human tragedies through the intercession of St. Joseph Vaz!

Please share this information with your family and friends. Questions: 
josephnaik@gmail.com

Thank you.
  
Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://www.josephnaikvaz.org

Re: [Goanet] Bible verse of the Day

[George Pinto]

Is there any one wiser than the idiot Trump?


 On Thursday, March 19, 2020, 09:37:15 PM PDT, Devak Argham 
 wrote: 

1 Corinthians 1: 18 - 21

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us 
who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:  “I will destroy 
the wisdom of the wise, and the learning of the earned I will set aside.”  
Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? 
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?  For since in the wisdom of 
God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God 
through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith.

[Goanet] Feast of St. Joseph Vaz and Martin Luther King Day

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE JOSEPH NAIK VAZ INSTITUTE
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/838

January 20 is Martin Luther King Day to celebrate the memory of the Rev. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. January 16 is the Feast of Goan born St. Joseph Vaz 
(1656-1711), the Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka, Patron of the Archdiocese of 
Goa and of Sri Lanka.

As America celebrates the life and work of the great human rights activist, 
Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20, let us remember that five years ago, H.H. 
Pope Francis canonized St. Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka, and 
honored the struggle he led for freedom of religion and worship in Sri Lanka. 

We invite all devotees and admirers of this great Goan saint to remember that 
he laid his life on the line to work under persecution to win back religious 
freedom for the descendants of Sri Lankan Catholic converts in Sri Lanka. St. 
Joseph Vaz, born in Goa, offered to go to Sri Lanka under disguise.  He lived 
and worked there for twenty-three years, walking barefoot and escaping capture 
by the Dutch who had banned the practice of the Catholic faith and all priests 
from entering Sri Lanka. Through his arduous labors and courageous resistance, 
he built up an underground church, even underground schools, and a Catholic 
community that has survived to the present day. The Sri Lankan Catholic 
community that he successfully founded and the country of Sri Lanka hosted the 
Pope’s official visit to Sri Lanka in 2015 to canonize him as Goa, Mangalore, 
and Sri Lanka’s first canonized Saint.

St. Joseph Vaz will always remain a symbol of hope and inspiration for all 
those who suffer persecution and are standing up for freedom of religion. We 
invite all those who are working for human rights and social justice to join us 
in celebrating his saintly life at our annual Feast Day Mass, to be held this 
year on Feb. 9, 2020, and help make him better known as a model of service to 
humanity. For more information about the Feast Day Mass, please see 
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/838

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://josephnaikvaz.org/

Re: [Goanet] GOA DESPERATELY NEEDS AN HONEST AND UPRIGHT CHIEF MINISTER

[George Pinto]

Goa needs honest and upright MLAs and more importantly honest and upright 
citizens. The political class is fed by dishonest citizens. The blame also has 
to be placed at one of the key sources which is feeding the corruption. Goans 
are not innocent bystanders.


On Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 11:52:44 AM PST, Aires Rodrigues 
 wrote: 

It is now abundantly clear that the Goa Government has been for too long 
blatantly lying to the people of Goa on the Mining as well as the Mhadei issue. 
 Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should make public as to how many crores the Goa 
Government has merrily squandered over the last few years on Advocates and all 
in vain on that protracted and futile legal battle over these two critical 
issues.

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop public meeting on Monday, December 30, 2019, Miramar, 3:30pm to 7pm

[George Pinto]

Dear Goans:

Let's work together to save and preserve Goa. Under the guise of “development” 
over the past 20 years, Goa has seen unprecedented levels of corruption at 
every level of Goan society. Goa has degraded at the expense of Goans. Goa 
Sudharop will be hosting a panel discussion which will focus on seeking 
accountability as a means to address corruption.

You are cordially invited to a Goa Sudharop public meeting on Monday, December 
30, 2019 at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Miramar, Panjim, from 3:30pm to 7pm. 
All invited. There is no cost to attend.

The idea is to deeply understand the contemporary challenges faced by Goans in 
order to identify duty-bearers and demand their accountability. This idea is 
borne out of the belief that by affirming the accountability of the State, it 
is possible to work towards ensuring all citizens the right to a dignified life 
and livelihood based on people & environmental driven development, and the 
right to full citizenship. It is also driven by a desire for a vibrant, just 
and equitable Goa which caters to all Goans and all sections of Goan society.

PROGRAMME:

3:30 - 4:00pm. Refreshments, and Meet-and-greet.

4:00pm. Welcome address by Mr George Pinto, Co-founder of Goa Sudharop.

4:10pm to 6:00pm, Panel presentation - Holding the State Accountable. The 
speakers will address the following issues with the overarching theme of 
accountability:

1) Small Scale Fishers, the Challenges to their Livelihoods, and Addressing 
Missing Coastal Entitlements - by social activist: Mr. Sebastian Rodrigues..

2) Upholding Land Life and Culture the Goa Way: calling for participatory 
planning (Touching on issues of land grab, marinas and casinos) - by social 
activist: Mr. Rama Kankonkar.

3) Whither Citizenship of Goans? (also addressing the issue of dual 
citizenship) - by Advocate Albertina Almeida.

6:00pm to 6:55pm. Where Do We Go From Here? - Open group discussion.

6:55pm, Vote of Thanks by Ibonio D’Souza.

Please note, a similar event with relevant topics and speakers will be held in 
Margao on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 3:30pm to 7pm. Please save the date 
and more details to follow.We look forward to seeing you at all our events.

Goa Sudharop
Mobile: 9850454371

[Goanet] Goa Sudharop meeting on Monday, December 30th, 2019 at Miramar, Goa

[George Pinto]

You are cordially invited to a Goa Sudharop public meeting on Monday, December 
30, 2019 at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Miramar, Panjim, from 3:30pm to 7pm. 
All invited. There is no cost to attend.

Under the guise of “development” over the past 20 years, Goa has seen 
unprecedented levels of corruption at every level of Goan society. Goa has 
degraded at the expense of Goans. Goa Sudharop will be hosting a panel 
discussion which will focus on seeking accountability as a means to address 
corruption.

The idea is to deeply understand the contemporary challenges faced by Goans in 
order to identify duty-bearers and demand their accountability. This idea is 
borne out of the belief that by affirming the accountability of the State, it 
is possible to work towards ensuring all citizens the right to a dignified life 
and livelihood based on people & environmental driven development, and the 
right to full citizenship. It is also driven by a desire for a vibrant, just 
and equitable Goa which caters to all Goans and all sections of Goan society.

PROGRAMME:

3:30 - 4:00pm. Refreshments, and Meet-and-greet.
4:00pm. Welcome address by Mr George Pinto, Co-founder of Goa Sudharop.
4:10pm to 6:00pm, Panel presentation - Holding the State Accountable. The 
speakers will address the following issues with the overarching theme of 
accountability:
1) Small Scale Fishers, the Challenges to their Livelihoods, and Addressing 
Missing Coastal Entitlements - by social activist: Mr. Sebastian Rodrigues.
2) Upholding Land Life and Culture the Goa Way: calling for participatory 
planning (Touching issues of land grab, marinas and casinos) - by social 
activist: Mr. Rama Kankonkar.
3) Whither Citizenship of Goans? (also addressing the issue of dual 
citizenship) - by Advocate Albertina Almeida.

6:00pm to 6:55pm. Where Do We Go From Here? - Open group discussion.

6:55pm, Vote of Thanks by Ibonio D’Souza.

Please note, a similar event with relevant topics and speakers will be held in 
Margao on Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 3:30pm to 7pm. Please save the date 
and more details to follow.

We look forward to seeing you at all our events.

Goa Sudharop

Re: [Goanet] Goanetters meet

[George Pinto]

Hi Ana: 


The annual Goa Sudharop meeting is Monday, Dec 30, from 4-7pm at GASPAR DIAS. 
More information to follow. Please mark your calendars. All welcome.

The meet referred to by Ana Maria Goswani is separate. 

George

On Thursday, December 5, 2019, 08:40:32 AM PST, 
 wrote: 

Just an information. Is there a goanetters meet this December. If I remember 
correctly, last year it was announced that this year it will be at Inst. 
Menezes Braganca around the 28th of this month.

Kind regards

Ana Maria Goswami

[Goanet] Caritas - sex abuse scandal

[George Pinto]

When will this end against the innocents?

Caritas 'outraged' by child abuse scandal uncovered by CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/21/africa/caritas-internationalis-luk-delft-intl/index.html

UN suspends ties with Caritas over sex abuse probe
https://politics.com.ph/un-suspends-ties-with-caritas-over-sex-abuse-probe/




   

UN aid groups said Monday they have suspended cooperation with the Catholic 
charity Caritas in the Central Afric...   

Re: [Goanet] WHY ONLY IFFI AND NO TIATRS AT KALA ACADEMY?

[George Pinto]

 Shameful. Goans taken for a ride again. Goans are treated as second-class in 
their own land. George
  

Re: [Goanet] IRAN

[George Pinto]

The war industry is profit based.  So we will always have these wars based on 
false pretenses to feed the war profit machine. Plus Iran has a lot of oil. Too 
bad we have not convinced people that peace is more profitable and to invest in 
peace instead.

George

Re: [Goanet] Goa, Gone with the Wind by Rajdeep Sardesai

[George Pinto]

If anyone had any doubt that the BJP was less corrupt than the Congress, the 
recent actions of the 10 Congress defectors is all the proof one needs. Of 
course, the naive and partisan will still hold on to notion that there are two 
parties and that one is better than the other.  Two sides of the same corrupt 
(and sometimes communal) coin.

If anyone saw their mother attacked they would immediately step in and stop the 
attack. The motherland (Goa) has been relentlessly attacked over the last 20 
years and Goans (including overseas Goans) are watching from the sidelines 
(sometimes Goans are aiding and abetting the attack with self-inflicted 
wounds). NO Goan politician has any moral standing and given that Goans are 
aware of the situation and doing nothing, they are effectively saying "I am NOT 
Goan", disavowing their own identity.

Goa, RIP

 On Friday, July 19, 2019, 12:31:13 PM PDT,  wrote: 

sharing-please share..


From: Office Of Rajdeep Sardesai 
Sent: 19 July 2019 12:49
Subject: Goa, Gone with the Wind by Rajdeep Sardesai

We Goans are often unfairly lampooned as happy go lucky, alcohol swigging, 
siesta loving, beach bums. I use the word 'we' cautiously since I truly haven¹t 
spent enough time in Goa nor can I speak fluent Konkani. But my late father 
remains the only Goa born Goan cricketer to play for India, enough reason I 
guess for me to qualify as an ‘honorary’ Goan. If you still believe that 'we' 
Goans are carefree and relaxed in our idyllic 'susegado' derived from the 
Portuguese word 'sossegado') lifestyle, then you just have to meet our 
politicians: the contrast between the natural beauty of Goa and the coarse 
ugliness of its politics could not be more stark. read more

https://www.rajdeepsardesai.net/columns/goa-gone-wind

Re: [Goanet] EVEN GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE THESE POLITICAL BANDITS

[George Pinto]

Goa died a long time ago and Goans are to blame. The rich won. There are no 
multiple political parties and there is no difference between the so-called 
political parties. They are all one and periodically play musical chairs for 
entertainment but the end result is the same - rob Goa blind. I am surprised it 
has taken this long for Goans to realize there is no Goan politician with any 
integrity and honesty. After the last 20 years, Goans have finally realized the 
political class have robbed them blind at every opportunity.  There is only the 
rich who are the political class and control everything. Now the rich want 
Goans to pay for Goa's funeral expenses, that is all that is left to complete 
the heist.

 On Sunday, July 14, 2019, 01:38:34 AM PDT,  wrote: 

For those eight Catholic MLAs today will be their first Sunday Mass where the 
congregation will be the very people that voted in good faith but were so 
callously and insultingly betrayed after that very high-handed and detestable 
defection.  After having sinned for the greed of Money and Lust for Power, they 
may try to seek repentance in vain for the political
prostitution they have indulged in while taking Goa and Goans for a ride. 
Fooling some of the people some of the time may be possible but fooling God at 
any time is Impossible!

The Anti-defection law came into force in 1985 to deter the evil of political 
defections by legislators motivated by the lure of office and monetary gains. 
The intent of the law was to prevent corruption by way of horse-trading.

Our Goa may be India’s smallest State within the world’s largest democracy, but 
it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. We have shown the nation 
ways and means to circumvent the Anti- Defection law, with political 
prostitution and party turncoats. Our arrogant and deceitful politicians have 
perfected the art of betrayal and subversion of the precious democratic right 
of the individual for their own personal gain. Fortunately, the natural law of 
Karma that says what goes around comes around will always outsmart the 
treachery and evil perpetrated by the few on the many.

What Goa has witnessed is a Jamboree of political hara-kiri sponsored by the 
cash rich and power intoxicated BJP ready to take advantage of the corrupt and 
the gullible. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Even those in the world's 
oldest profession do it better.

Re: [Goanet] Quo vadis the expat Goan association?

[George Pinto]

Goan expat organizations have been in their death throes for many years now. 
Sadly they do not recognize their terminal state and hence have not taken steps 
to prolong their lifespan. The vast majority of Goan expat organizations are 
social clubs with the usual mix of picnics and dances (at least the Catholic 
groups). Many years ago, I had written that their agenda does not appeal to 
young Goans who are more connected and open to other communities. But Goans in 
general are not very bright people who stop and reflect on their situation and 
look at trends and what is happening in their larger communities. Hence, the 
bell tolls.

But the death of Goan expat organizations has to be understood against the 
backdrop of the death of the motherland (Goa). A well-run Goa would attract 
expat Goans to invest in Goa in various ways (not just financial investment). 
Instead we see lawlessness, environmental degradation on a large scale, etc. In 
addition, in the last five years, a majority in Goa are now non-Goans, migrants 
who have primarily come to Goa to work on illegal activity (casinos, housing 
"development" which is for non-Goans, mining, "tourism", etc.). How does 
present-day Goa appeal to expats?  And it seems there is a challenge to keep 
local Goans in Goa as many have left in droves to the UK (through the 
Portuguese passport route).

The death of Goa and Goan identity is self-inflicted. There is no will to 
preserve Goa and incrementally improve and provide good employment to Goans. 
Instead, greed has laid Goa waste (sale of the land to non-Goans). No Goan 
(expat or local) should shed crocodile tears at Goa's funeral when they have 
been complicit in her demise.

George

On Saturday, June 22, 2019, 02:29:10 PM PDT, gabe.mene...@gmail.com wrote: 

http://www.navhindtimes.in/quo-vadis-the-expat-goan-association/

Re: [Goanet] Goa: Coal Corridor For Karnataka And Maharashtra! Destruction Of Heritage Houses Near Rail Tracks!!

[George Pinto]

Environmental concerns only exist in developed countries. In Goa and developing 
countries, corrupt politicians and corrupt locals who work with them, could not 
care less for the environment. Goa is a toilet stop for the truck drivers 
transporting illegally obtained Goan resources between Maharashtra and 
Karnataka.

 On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, 1:39:56 AM PDT, Frederick Noronha wrote: 

Adani's controversial Queensland coal mine is finally shovel-ready. Yet 
significant scientific questions remain, such as the impact on the region's 
aquifers.

https://theconversation.cmail20.com/t/r-l-jidrchk-uidlgxn-u/

Re: [Goanet] A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR DEAR MICHAEL

[George Pinto]

Only Goan politicians who do not take bribes and do not benefit by illegally 
obtained land should be felicitated. So the question is: which Goan politician 
is clean and should be extended birthday wishes?

George

Re: [Goanet] Mud, Muck, And The Monkey In The Mandovi River.

[George Pinto]

The Mandovi river is filthy (and the Zuari too). If anyone believes the casinos 
do not empty their sewage into the river, they also believe the casinos legally 
obtained their licenses.

George

Re: [Goanet] How two sisters homed in an opportunity that combines houses and tourism in Goa

[George Pinto]

It does not sound like a great business opportunity if you are Goan and want to 
protect the little that is left of Goa which has not been taken over by the 
low-life rich from Delhi and Bombay. This only benefits non-Goans.


On 10-06-2019 PM 02:18, Frederick Noronha wrote:

> https://yourstory.com/2019/06/startup-kasu-assets-real-estate-goa/amp
>
> Sounds like a great business opportunity, but how do projects like these
> skew the accommodation and housing market in Goa?

Re: [Goanet] MERIT ALONE AND NOT RESERVATIONS SHOULD BE THE WAY AHEAD

[George Pinto]

See below. This is only one of the reasons why reservations are needed. George

--
Public statement on the suicide of Dr Payal Tadvi in a Mumbai hospital

(People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism)
Press Release
05.06.2019

Dr PayalTadvi, an Adivasi Muslim from one of the most backward tribes of India 
committed suicide on 22 May in her hostel room in a Mumbai hospital. She was a  
post-graduate resident doctor in the hospital. Many times before her suicide 
her mother and husband had given written representations to the  hospital 
authorities about the harassment she had been facing from three of her seniors. 
According to these complaints her harassers were using casteist abuses and 
publicly humiliating her. However, the hospital took no administrative actions. 
After her death the hospital’s anti-ragging committee has reportedly found 
evidence of harassment, and according to some newspaper report the police have 
found evidence of
derogatory casteist remarks.

Dr PayalTadvi’s suicide immediately brings to mind the suicide by Rohith Vemula 
in 2015, a PhD scholar at the Hyderabad Central University. Rohith was a 
student activist.His organisation had been protesting against the HCU 
administration for months before his suicide. Even ministers of the BJP central 
government had enquiredif his organisation had been adequately punished by the 
university administration after it was involved in a physical brawl with 
activists of the ABVP, the student organisation allied with the ruling party. 
If the context of Rohith’s suicide was institutional victimisation of radical 
dalit youth, Payal’s suicide throws  open a window to the intimate cruelties 
suffered by the people of deprived backgrounds every day. According to her 
mother when Payal moved in the hospital hostel, the only cot in the room was 
already taken by one of her alleged harassers. Her room-mate, also a doctor 
would wipe her feet on the mattress on which Payal slept.Payal was a trained 
doctor. She had worked in a primary health center for a year. Yet her modern 
professional status could not shield her from what she had to go through.She 
narrated incidences of her humiliation only to her immediate family members. 
They complained to authorities when they felt she was under serious stress. She 
died alone, without leaving any suicide note.

Even seventy years after independence, and a constitution that promises a life 
of dignity to every citizen, Dalits, adivasis, and minorities in India continue 
to suffer multiple humiliations in their everyday lives. Appropriate legal 
provisions are in place. Institutional motivation to implement these provisions 
is woefully lacking, as shown in  Payal’s case. However, even if institutional 
mechanisms were in place, these can play a role  only after a dalit or an 
Adivasi has been humiliated, or suffered an assault. Indians need to identify 
and root out the conditions which make many of them abusers and haters of  
people from deprived backgrounds.
Indian society remains  a deeply hierarchical and divided society. Its public 
sphere, in which people are supposed to be able to interact with each other 
without distinctions, is also stamped with hierarchy, so that there is little 
respect for a human being for just being a person. The normalcy of this public 
is dominated by people from privileged backgrounds. People from deprived 
backgrounds always feel marked in this sphere. Numerous writings by Dalit and 
Adivasi authors bring it out in painful detail.  In educational institutions 
and work environments they are permanently stamped  with the ‘reservation’ 
category tag. Most of them are first generation learners from poor families. 
They  get to join these institutions and places of work after numerous hurdles, 
but their individual talents are little recognised. Increasingly, Muslims of 
our country are also being made to feel the same way.

Institutions of higher learning and government offices reek of a nefarious 
discourse on ‘merit’ of the ‘general’ category. This ‘merit’ is supposed to be 
measured by marks in entrance exams. But how does one compare the abilities of 
a dalit young woman from a rural landless family, who spent half her time on 
family chores, went to a dilapidated village school, and still got admission to 
an institution of higher learning, with another person whose upper middle class 
urban  parents gave him/her education in expensive private schools, provided 
comfortable learning environment at home, and paid for extra tuitions and 
coaching? Why should only one of them be considered ‘meritorious’? Why cannot 
they interact freely in an environment of  mutual respect?

The policy of reservation in jobs and educational institutions is often cited 
as the chief culprit, as if without this policy these places will be republics 
of merit.The drafting committee of India’s constitution under the leadership of 
Dr Ambedkar adopted reservations as a 

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute

[George Pinto]

https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/816

Jayal Fernando, a Sri Lankan member of St. Lucy’s parish in Campbell in the 
diocese of San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area’s Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, 
which works to keep alive the heritage and spirituality of seventeenth century 
St. Joseph Vaz, Apostle and founder of the Sri Lankan Catholic church, request 
your presence and prayers for the victims of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri 
Lanka, and for Peace and healing in Sri Lanka. 

The public of all communities and faiths are invited to this Mass to 
commemorate all the 259 victims who died and many others who were injured in 
the bombings in Sri Lanka during Easter Sunday Masses and Christian services as 
well as in tourist hotels on April 21, 2019.  

This Commemorative Mass will be held at St. Lucy’s Church, 2350 Winchester 
Blvd., Campbell, CA  95008 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday June 14, 2019.  
 
Rev. Kannadeniye Santa of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Dharmapala Institute of the 
Bay Area will offer a prayer and reflections at the conclusion of Mass.

Please share this invitation about the Mass with your family and friends.

Contributed by Jayal Fernando and Filomena Saraswati Giese, President  of  
Joseph Naik Vaz Institute.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/816

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE - 

The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, Berkeley California is dedicated to Peace, 
Inter-religious understanding and humanitarian service among its other aims and 
goals. With that important goal in mind, the Institute was pleased to sponsor 
the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ms. Leymah Gbowee's (pronounced "bowee" with 
the "G" silent) visit to the San Francisco Bay Area last week where she worked 
with our Board Member, George Pinto, in reaching a number of key organizations 
and individuals in connection with her work. George Pinto also serves as a 
Board member of the Gbowee Peace Foundation USA. 

More information on Ms. Gbowee can be found at 
https://www.gboweepeaceusa.org/our-founder

Ms. Gbowee won the Nobel Peace Prize in part because of her inter-religious 
outreach in bringing together Christians and Muslims and peacefully ending the 
Liberian Civil War (although the conflict was not religious based, the 
Christian and Muslim community came together to end the civil war). Ms. Gbowee 
is possibly the only Nobel Peace Prize winner to be awarded the Prize in part 
for her inter-religious work. The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute derives its 
inspiration from the inter-religious experiences of Saint Joseph Vaz and his 
humanitarian work. While Saint Joseph Vaz lived in Sri Lanka he was protected 
and helped by other religions, a symbol of inter-religious harmony much needed 
in today's world.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
https://josephnaikvaz.org/

Re: [Goanet] WELFARE OF DOGS CANNOT SUPERSEDE THE WELL BEING OF HUMANS

[George Pinto]

The builders lobby, miners lobby, casino lobby, political and bureaucratic 
crooks (panchayat, sarpanchs), unscrupulous lawyers all over Goa who facilitate 
illegal real estate transactions are worse than dogs and a greater menace to 
Goan society. Goans are bitten every day in every aspect of their lives by 
these vile human beings. George

 On Saturday, May 25, 2019, 11:45:21 PM PDT, Aires Rodrigues wrote: 

Over the years crores have been spent on attempting to tackle the stray dog
menace but the situation is just getting shoddier by the day. The stray dog
menace across Goa is now beyond control. The so called sterilisation
programme is just not working. Sterilization alone can never be the only
solution to this grave and alarming crisis of stray dogs.

[Goanet] From Calangute to California to Cannes

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE -

>From Calangute to California to Cannes
Goa Sudharop's journey continues

Since its inception in 2001, Goa Sudharop, a non-profit based in California and 
working for the betterment of Goa and Goans, has had many successes which we 
have humbly achieved through the support of our donors, volunteers, and 
well-wishers.  

On May 18, 2019, history will be made with another significant landmark 
achievement. Goa Sudharop and internationally renowned fashion designer Verma 
D'Mello have been selected by the Cannes Film and Fashion Festival to showcase 
their joint THREAD UP project in the highly acclaimed annual fashion show which 
includes Hollywood stars and other celebrities. The THREAD UP project helps and 
empowers low-income indigenous Goan women by providing them job-skills which 
helps them earn an income and economic independence, see information on the 
THREAD UP project at https://www.goasudharop.net/thread-up  During the fashion 
show, international models will walk the runway wearing Verma's dresses and all 
proceeds from the sale of the dresses will be donated to the THREAD UP project. 

Verma D'Mello is based in Goa and passionately works to help low-income women 
and girls. On the eve of her departure from Goa to Cannes, Verma said "our 
rural Goan women possess great strength and spiritual powers of healing, 
replenishment, rejuvenation, revitalization.  But when I encountered them in 
remote villages in Goa, I saw their lack of skills for even a basic livelihood, 
I was touched by how they are in need of recovery from a deteriorating life 
cycle of neglect. This realization led me to enter into a partnership with Goa 
Sudharop to teach them skills and transform them into the jewels of beauty they 
should be".

Goa Sudharop would like to thank all the donors of the THREAD UP project. Goa 
Sudharop would also like to thank our Treasurer and Board Member Shilla Almeida 
and volunteers Harriet Ferens, Kimberly Gilbert, and Brendan Albuquerque who 
are travelling to Cannes at their own personal expense to help Verma and her 
team with the event.

Goa Sudharop
https://www.goasudharop.net/thread-up

[Goanet] Memorial service for victims of Sri Lankan bombings

[George Pinto]

>From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute ...

Filomena Saraswati Giese, of the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute and an alum of the 
Jesuit School of Theology participated in a memorial service at the GTU on 
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 for the victims of the tragic Easter Sunday Sri 
Lankan bombings. 

See report at https://josephnaikvaz.org/archives/782 

It was especially poignant since Filomena’s 1987 M.A. thesis at JST was titled 
Sannyasa in the Spirituality and Mission of Ven. Fr. Joseph Vaz, Apostle of 
Kanara and Sri Lanka. She offered her reflections on the Sri Lankan tragedy and 
the inspiration to be drawn in today’s world of religious violence, from the 
inter-religious story of the founding of the present day Catholic Church in Sri 
Lanka.    

The Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, California, is a consortium 
of eight private independent American theological schools and eleven centers 
and affiliates. The GTU was founded in 1962 and their students can take courses 
at the University of California, Berkeley. The Jesuit School of Theology (JST) 
in Berkeley is an affiliate of Santa Clara University (SCU), the Jesuit 
University in Santa Clara in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is part of the 
GTU consortium of theological schools.  The Memorial was hosted by the Jesuit 
School of Theology, to give the theological community an opportunity to grieve 
and offer prayers and reflections.

Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., Dean of JST and President- elect of SCU, was joined by 
the heads, faculty and students of the Schools of Theology and Centers of the 
Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic and Dharma (Hindu) Studies affiliated to the GTU. 

The President of the GTU, Rabbi Daniel Lehmann, opened the Memorial service, 
reciting the Kaddish for those who died. He spoke of the present day bombings 
and killings at places of sacred worship – mosques on a Friday, Jewish temples 
on a Saturday, and now Christian churches on their holiest of days, Easter 
Sunday. He prayed for peace and comfort for the families of the victims and for 
inter-religious tolerance.   

Mary Beth Lamb, Senior Assistant for Student Life at JST, and several others of 
the GTU community, offered a prayer for the Sri Lankan victims and for healing 
and hope for peace. Also attending were Munir Jawa, Founding Director of the 
Center for Islamic Studies, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and 
Anthropology, and Sr. Marianne Farina CSC, Professor of Philosophy and Theology 
at CIS, as well as Dr. Rita Sherma, Director of Dharma Studies (Hindu). Dr. 
Sherma expressed the grief of the GTU community at these killings and prayed 
for peace. 

Filomena next spoke about how those Catholics killed at prayer on Easter Sunday 
were descendants of the converts made by St. Joseph Vaz, people who had kept 
their faith through one hundred and fifty years of Dutch persecution and 
deprivation of religious freedom. She outlined the history of the Catholic 
faith, first brought to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese in 1505 as part of their 
search for the spice trade and later conquest of Sri Lankan sea ports. This was 
followed by the Dutch conquest of the Portuguese territories in 1656. The Dutch 
were Protestant and rivals of the Portuguese for the spice trade. They set out 
to suppress the Catholic Church in order to destroy all Portuguese connections 
in Sri Lanka. They passed laws banning all practice of Catholicism. They banned 
all priests and missionaries from entering Sri Lanka under pain of death. 
Catholics caught practicing their religion and harboring priests were fined and 
imprisoned, even put to death. Their political and civil rights were taken away.

Before long, there were no more than a few underground Catholics left. After 
forty years of this rigorous persecution, a courageous Indian priest from Goa, 
Father Joseph Vaz, smuggled himself, dressed as a coolie, into Sri Lanka and 
set about re-establishing the Catholic Church.

At this painful time of inter-religious violence, Filomena brought home to 
those gathered, how the protection of the Buddhist King of Kandy and the help 
of people of other faiths made it possible for the Catholic Church to be 
re-built by St. Joseph Vaz:   

        Vaz spent two years in Jaffna where the Dutch were constantly trying to 
capture him, hidden by his underground Catholics. They decided to take him to 
the Buddhist kingdom of Kandy where they thought he would be safe from the 
Dutch. Initially, he was captured by the soldiers of its Buddhist king as a 
spy. But King Vimaldharma Surya II of Kandy observed that he was indeed a great 
saint without political and material ties. He released him from prison and gave 
him his protection, allowing him freedom to preach and build churches. 

        Even in Kandy, there were plots to have him banished from the kingdom 
of Kandy. On one occasion, one such plot was serious enough that the King was 
about to banish him from Kandy. It was the Muslim physician of the King who 

Re: [Goanet] PANAJI CANNOT GO DOWN THE TUBE THE TALEIGAO WAY

[George Pinto]

The Taleigao model is the worst possible "development" model to follow. It only 
enriches politicians, bureaucrats and builders. Illegal "development" to 
benefit outsiders, not Goans. Are Goans buying the apartments? No. Instead, 
Goans are selling their land to outsiders and land sharks from Dubai, Delhi, 
Mumbai - criminal elements are very active in every stage of Goa's real estate 
"development". Everywhere it is Goa for non-Goans.

Goa, RIP

[Goanet] From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, Berkeley, California

[George Pinto]

PRESS RELEASE -

Condolences to the families of victims of Sri Lanka church bombings on Easter 
Sunday

Just a day ago we sent our yearly message on the April 21st birthday of St. 
Joseph Vaz (1651-1711)  which this year happened to fall on Easter Sunday.  

Instead of celebration and joy of Easter morning, the world woke up to the 
tragic news that over two hundred were killed in bombings in Sri Lankan 
churches and hotels on this holiest of Christian days.

His Holiness Pope Francis gave a message of condolence and sadness at these 
violent attacks in his Easter message from the steps of St. Peter’s.

Christian leaders at this moment should note that Sri Lankan Catholicism traces 
its roots to Saint Joseph Vaz's efforts under Dutch persecution to re-found the 
Church in seventeenth century Sri Lanka.  Also, they should note that St. 
Joseph Vaz struggled to gain religious freedom for Sri Lanka’s Catholics and 
left a legacy of inter religious peace with Buddhists.  Buddhist King 
Vimaladharma Surya II of Kandy and later his son, King Narendrasinha, gave him 
political protection from the Dutch authorities, as well as religious freedom 
to preach and build churches within their kingdom.  

While Catholic leaders and we, the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute representing St. 
Joseph Vaz, send our condolences to the families of victims of the Sri Lanka 
bombings and stand in solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka, we gratefully 
acknowledge that the Catholic Church owes its existence to the religious 
protection that those Buddhist Kings of Kandy gave to that refugee saint and 
Founder of the present day Church of Sri Lanka, three hundred years ago.

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://www.josephnaikvaz.org
email: josephnaik@gmail.com

[Goanet] 368th Birthday (April 21) of St. Joseph Vaz (1651-1711) [4 Attachments]

[George Pinto]

>From the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute.

 368th Birthday (April 21) of St. Joseph Vaz (1651-1711)
Saving a World Spiritual Heritage

Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ and it signifies 
re-birth and renewal. This message of Resurrection was poignantly brought home 
to us as we watched the tragic fire at the 850-year-old Cathedral of Notre Dame 
("Our Mother") in Paris and heard both the ordinary and the powerful of France 
speak of the hope of the Resurrection of Easter and of Notre Dame in the same 
breath.  As has been repeated numerous times on TV, this cathedral is a 
spiritual and national monument of France and of the entire Christian world. 
Hence French and international politicians, billionaires, the ordinary man and 
woman in the street, have immediately pledged a billion Euros to repair and 
maintain the structure and its history and art for generations to come.  Many 
who are contributing are non-practicing Catholics who still value this national 
treasure as part of their national identity and spiritual heritage.  

As we celebrate the 368th birthday of St. Joseph Vaz on April 21st, we hope 
that our young people, the next generation of Indian and Sri Lankan Catholics, 
will similarly pause and think of saving the spiritual heritage of this very 
great and unique Asian Indian and Sri Lankan saint.  He risked his life to give 
dedicated service to the persecuted and abandoned Catholics of Sri Lanka, to 
the sick and dying in Goa, coastal Karnataka, and Sri Lanka.  As Jesuit and Sri 
Lankan historian, Fr. S.G. Perera, has written, there is no other story like 
his of a missionary who rescued and raised the Catholic Church from the ashes 
single-handedly, as he did in Sri Lanka.  He gained the love and protection of 
the two Buddhist Kings of Kandy against Dutch persecutors who were seeking his 
arrest, imprisonment, and death.  In the accounts of Christianity in Asia, 
there is no Catholic saint except St. Joseph Vaz that has ever gained the 
protection of Buddhist Kings. He showed that inter-religious dialogue and 
peaceful co-existence can work. 

Just as Notre Dame has played a large role in the history of western European 
Christianity, St. Joseph Vaz has left a very large footprint in the history of 
Christendom and inter-religious dialogue in modern Asia.He traveled to many 
places to do his ministry and these are the sites that are today endangered. So 
far, the architectural and other sites which marked his passage have been saved 
largely by village people, descendants of those he converted and ministered to, 
and by the local churches. The local people in villages around Mangalore have 
marked where Catholic missions had been abandoned because of Dutch Protestant 
military dominance in that part of India, and which he revived. After working 
in coastal Karnataka, he came to Sri Lanka disguised as a coolie to escape 
detection by Dutch police.  Villagers have saved and lovingly preserved 
underground chapels and churches, even underground schools, that he established 
in Sri Lanka for those persecuted and deprived of religious freedom and other 
civil freedoms by the Dutch. 

In the San Francisco-Bay area and other places, the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute 
has worked to preserve and celebrate the memory of St. Joseph Vaz even to the 
present day. To that end, the Joseph Naik Vaz Institute has struggled with 
Vatican bureaucracy and worked for forty years to get St. Joseph Vaz canonized, 
have his name entered into the Catholic Calendar of Saints, and his spiritual 
contributions remembered. As we celebrate Easter and also the Birthday of St. 
Joseph Vaz this April 21st, we invite our Asian Indian and Sri Lankan 
Catholics, especially our youth to support the loving work of past generations 
of impoverished and marginalized native Catholics to preserve his memory. The 
Catholic Church has canonized him as an official saint and model who belongs to 
the billion members of the universal church. The Sri Lankan government, secular 
and largely Buddhist in composition, has hosted the state visits of two Popes 
to beatify and canonize him. The rest is up to us, to do the work of keeping 
his story alive for future generations.  

Joseph Naik Vaz Institute
http://www.josephnaikvaz.org
email: josephnaik@gmail.com

Re: [Goanet] Goa priest apologises for remarks against PM, Shah, Parrikar

[George Pinto]

One point:
The priest is supposedly speaking for God as to the punishment meted out to the 
late Chief Minister. I prefer when God speaks for herself rather through 
intermediaries in the various religion.

George

Re: [Goanet] Destruction of Panjim Jetty on Mandovi river by Capt of Ports

[George Pinto]

A few years ago there were mass protests in Goa. Why aren't Goans protesting 
today? Are they too feeble to fight corruption and orders from Delhi and 
Mumbai? Or are Goans complicit in the destruction of Goa? Either way, Goa, RIP.

George

Re: [Goanet] Sanquelim residents have high hopes from CM

[George Pinto]

I heard that Goan politicians are corrupt and regardless of political party, 
large amounts of money are exchanging hands between builders, miners, casino 
owners (sometimes they are all the same scoundrels) and politicians. All this 
is done under the scam of "development of Goa". So there is no political will 
to do the right thing for the people. Politicians are there to serve their 
money masters. This is what I heard. Is this true?

George


On Friday, March 22, 2019, 12:07:14 AM PDT, samir umarye 
 wrote: 

Samir Umarye

BICHOLIM: The people from Sanquelim have high aspirations from the newly 
elected Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant who also happens to be the Sanquelim 
MLA.