On 30th November 2025, the Catholic Church began the season of Advent, inviting the faithful into a time of reflection, anticipation, and preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent called us to slow down and ready our hearts spiritually, guiding us through its themes of hope, peace, joy, and love.
The First Sunday of Advent focused on Hope. The pastoral message of the year, “Hope does not disappoint,” echoed profoundly as we reflected on where we placed our trust. True hope was found in Christ Jesus, and as the first candle was lit on that day, its warm glow symbolised the unshakable hope we carried through Him. No matter the trials or uncertainties we faced, hope in Christ remained firm and reassuring.
The day encouraged us to trust God more deeply, to stay positive despite challenges, and to believe that brighter days were ahead. Advent reminded us that God continued to work even in our waiting and that His promises were always faithful and true. As we entered the Advent season on 30th November 2025, we were called not to lose hope or become discouraged. Instead, we were invited to pray, to believe, and to trust that God was preparing greater blessings for us.
The First Sunday of Advent became a moment of renewal — a time when our hearts were lifted, our faith strengthened, and our hope restored. It marked the beginning of a sacred journey toward Christmas, filled with expectation and the promise of God’s enduring love.
The 98th death anniversary of Ven. Agnelo will be solemnly commemorated at Pilar, Goa, from 11th to 20th November 2025. Ven. Agnelo, a beacon of faith and hope, continues to inspire pilgrims from across India and abroad.
This year’s theme, “Ven. Agnelo inspires us to be pilgrims of Hope,” reflects the spirit of devotion and service that marked his life and ministry.
Daily Masses will be celebrated in the morning at 5:30, 6:45, 8:00, 9:15, and 10:30, and in the evening at 4:00, 5:15, and 6:15. The solemn Mass on 20th November at 9:30 AM will be presided over by His Excellency Dominic Savio Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay.
The novena, held from 11th to 19th November, will be dedicated each day to special intentions such as peace in the world, migrants and refugees, youth, children, priests and religious, families, the environment, the sick, and missionaries.
Highlights of the commemoration include a Night Vigil on 14th November from 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM, multilingual Masses on 16th November in Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam, and a Mass for the sick on 18th November at 10:30 AM. Spiritual gatherings, confessions, counseling, and a campaign of prayers for Ven. Agnelo’s canonization will also be part of the observances.
Every Mass will be followed by novena prayers and blessings over the sick. The event draws thousands of devotees each year, a testimony to Ven. Agnelo’s enduring influence as a man of deep faith, humility, and service. His legacy continues to guide all who visit Pilar to live as true pilgrims of hope.
All Saints’ Day, observed every year on November 1, is one of the most beautiful and ancient celebrations in the Christian calendar. It is a day dedicated to honoring all saints — those whose names are known to the world and those whose quiet holiness remains known only to God. It is a feast of memory, gratitude, and inspiration — reminding believers that sanctity is not reserved for a few extraordinary figures, but is a calling open to everyone.
The origins of All Saints’ Day trace back to the earliest centuries of Christianity. In the beginning, the Church honored martyrs — those who had given their lives for their faith — with individual feast days. As the number of martyrs grew, it became impossible to commemorate each one separately. By the 4th century, communities began to hold a collective feast for “all martyrs.” The Eastern Church first celebrated this feast on the Sunday after Pentecost, a practice still observed in Orthodox Christianity today.
In the Western Church, the tradition evolved under Pope Boniface IV, who in 609 AD consecrated the Roman Pantheon — once a temple to pagan gods — to the Virgin Mary and all martyrs, renaming it Sancta Maria ad Martyres. This symbolic act transformed a monument of ancient Rome into a Christian sanctuary and laid the foundation for All Saints’ Day as we know it. Later, in the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV established November 1 as the official date for the celebration across the Western Church. The feast was extended beyond martyrs to include all saints, recognizing not only those canonized but every soul who lived a life of holiness.
The day also has deep ties to All Hallows’ Eve — now widely known as Halloween — which serves as the vigil of the feast. “Hallow” means “holy,” and “All Hallows’ Eve” literally means “the evening before All Saints’ Day.” The following day, November 2, is All Souls’ Day, dedicated to praying for the faithful departed who have not yet reached heaven. Together, these observances create a profound trilogy of remembrance — celebrating the saints, praying for souls, and reflecting on our shared spiritual journey.
Throughout history, All Saints’ Day has taken on rich cultural expressions around the world. In France, it is known as La Toussaint and marked as a public holiday, with families visiting cemeteries to lay chrysanthemums on graves. In Spain, people attend Mass and bring flowers to cemeteries, blending faith with family tradition. In the Philippines, the celebration becomes a national reunion as families gather at cemeteries, lighting candles, sharing meals, and remembering loved ones through laughter and prayer. Across Latin America, the customs intertwine with Día de los Santos and Día de los Muertos, blending Catholic devotion with indigenous remembrance rituals.
For many, All Saints’ Day is not only about the saints of the past but also about the possibility of holiness in the present. It serves as a reminder that sanctity can be found in the everyday — in acts of kindness, forgiveness, courage, and love. The saints, in their diversity of backgrounds and experiences, show that there is no single path to holiness. Some were scholars and mystics; others were farmers, mothers, laborers, and children. Each, in their own way, answered the call to live a life of truth and compassion.
In churches around the world, the liturgical color of white symbolizes joy, purity, and the triumph of life over death. Bells ring, hymns echo, and prayers rise for all those who have gone before us in faith. The day invites every believer to reflect on their own life and purpose — to ask not only who the saints were, but who we might yet become.
As evening falls on All Saints’ Day, candles often flicker on graves and altars, their light soft but steady, symbolizing hope that endures beyond the limits of time. Each flame carries the memory of someone who lived with faith and love, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, light persists.
In honoring the saints, we celebrate not only their glory but the grace that flows through every human heart willing to choose goodness. All Saints’ Day calls us to see holiness not as perfection, but as presence — the presence of love that transforms the world, one act at a time.
Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo recently visited the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima in Portugal, one of the most significant and revered pilgrimage sites in the world. Their visit was a moment of spiritual reflection and devotion at a place that stands as a symbol of faith, peace, and divine grace.
Located in the quiet town of Fátima, the sanctuary marks the site where three shepherd children witnessed the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917. Since then, it has become a global center of faith, attracting millions of pilgrims every year who come to seek solace, healing, and spiritual renewal.
During their visit, Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo offered prayers at the Chapel of the Apparitions and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. Immersed in an atmosphere of reverence and calm, they reflected on the timeless message of hope and compassion that continues to resonate through the story of Fátima.
Their pilgrimage was a moment of connection with a centuries-old tradition of faith, emphasizing the importance of spiritual grounding and gratitude. The visit serves as a reminder that faith transcends borders and that places of devotion like Fátima continue to inspire hearts around the world with their message of peace, belief, and divine love.
The Our Lady of Fatima Feast at Don Bosco, Panjim, holds deep spiritual significance this year as the faithful welcome two sacred gifts from Portugal — the Pilgrim Virgin statue, donated by the Bishop of Fatima, and the relics of Saints Francesco and Jacinta Marto, the young visionaries of Fatima.
The arrival of the statue and relics marks a moment of grace for the local Catholic community, offering the faithful a chance for reflection, prayer, and renewed devotion. The relics and statue are displayed for public veneration, drawing parishioners, pilgrims, and visitors alike.
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima commemorates the Blessed Virgin Mary’s apparitions to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917 — a message centered on faith, repentance, and peace.
This year’s celebration at Don Bosco not only honors this enduring legacy but also strengthens the spiritual connection between Goa and Fatima.
The event, attended by clergy, parishioners, and the faithful from across Goa, is a testament to the enduring message of hope, compassion, and unity that continues to inspire generations.
