The virus has changed every aspect of life and celebrating festivals is something that has been hit very hard. Now with the vaccine in place the situation is slowly improving. With Easter, Goans will now have the opportunity to attend services albeit in very controlled circumstances and meet with friends with the proviso they follow all the sops.
This year Easter is going to be a lot better. With most of the churches still being open a lot of people attended the Easter Vigil mass by taking necessary precautions. This year we will also be able to receive Christ sacramentally through the Eucharist. I remember watching Easter vigil mass online last year and not being able to participate in mass or not having to meet other friends and family after mass was really disappointing. I hope this Easter will pass smoothly with everyone following social-distancing measures. – Winifred Margaret Norris, Student of Don Bosco College
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Well I feel Easter will be way better this year. Last year we had to stay at home due to the Corona virus. This year some safety measures have been taken, social distancing is being practiced properly. People visiting their families for Easter will not be forced to watch online mass at home. If we maintain proper social distancing and wear our mask we can have a safe and happy Easter – Orion Dsouza, Student of St. Xavier’s College
Slightly better this year because we are aware of how the situation is. The vaccine is there and protocols are in place. And luckily this time around people were able to move around and meet their families. So even though large scale events may not happen, people will be able to celebrate Easter with their families. – Nashville Earl Desouza, St. Xavier’s College
As everyone knows due to COVID 19 the conditions have been very bad and this year during Easter, I feel that everyone should celebrate in a prosperous and joyful way – Vaughan Fernandes, Dhempe College of Arts and Science
Easter is all about new beginnings. We can start by being a better version of ourselves so that the world can be a better place. This year might not be perfect but I want to contribute in a positive way to society. I know this year Easter will not be the same celebration we are all used to. I think this year it will be nice to look at past years and enjoy those memories. I hope that you get to celebrate in some way or another. Keep safe and healthy!” – Carlton Pinto, Owner of C.Pinto Builder’s
Easter will be better as people will be able to celebrate it unlike last year with safety precautions in place of course. This is so much better than last year when we couldn’t even get out of our house. – Nathan Lopez, Don Bosco College
Things our lives revolved around – school, college, work, gym, malls, movies and society have all gone for a toss as we are still learning to live without them. It also thought us that at the end it’s your own home and family that keeps you safe. Hope is what gives you the courage to embrace the new normal hoping for a new life ahead. And isn’t Easter all about it?? So yeah this pandemic did come with a few silver linings. Happy Easter – Nitisha Pandit, Influencer/Dancer
The previous Easter wasn’t a very memorable one as we were in quarantine and couldn’t celebrate it to the fullest. However, this year things have changed for the better as the vaccine is out and SOP’s are implemented. The second wave has arrived and it is not something that can be taken lightly. On the bright side, we must be grateful we can celebrate Easter together with our family and loved ones in a much better way as this year we are shades better. Churches have opened and confectionery outlets have all our Easter goodies lined up for us. Have a blessed and safe Easter. – Sherry Martins, St. Xavier’s College
Last year we could not celebrate Easter- the resurrection of Jesus- in the usual way by going to Church, meeting other people etc. It was online for some, while for many even that was not possible. This year we can physically go to the Church in Goa with fewer restrictions imposed. It makes us realise that we have to be thankful to the Lord for the peace and freedoms we have in Goa, and India, in this present era that we are living.
We have more freedom this year compared to last-year, which helped me realise by focusing more deeply on some of these aspects mentioned above. – Joshua D’Mello, Porvorim Post-Doctoral Research Fellow.
During last year Easter celebrations there were no people to participate in Mass. I had the opportunity to attend the celebration as I was doing the live streaming. It was so different to see churches with empty benches. But this year God has given us the opportunity to come to the church. – Anthony Fernandes, Nerul Engineer at Taj Fort Aguada
Easter time is a grace filled time for us. We are very happy this year we are able to attend services at our respective churches and chapels. The priests and the church authorities have been working tirelessly to take all the necessary precautions to avoid the spread of the Coronavirus, even to the extent of having extra services to facilitate social distancing. Last year was a very difficult time for us. For the first time in our lives, we could not go to church. We are grateful to our Bishop Rt. Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, all the priests, supporting staff and laity for the facility to perform our prayerful duties from the comfort of our homes. They kept our faith alive throughout this past one year through their online services. I am particularly very happy to go back to the services at the church and it was a feeling of coming home. That’s why Easter is more special this year. I am also happy we can spend time with our families this Easter. – Prof. Emilia Mascarenhas, Calangute.
Well… I can still feel the pain of not being able to attend Church services last year during Holy Week. Being a part of the choir didn’t make it any easier. Tears streamed down my cheeks as we celebrated the Holy Eucharist online at home. We then put on a smile and clicked pictures to wish family and friends. I thank and praise God that he has spared me that pain this year. Attending mass online this year??? No way… I celebrate attending mass. Have you ever wondered why you can’t watch some great foods on screen and satisfy yourself? I hunger…Or why can’t you enjoy being with your friends over a screen? I celebrate this Easter in the living presence of my risen lord and king and in loving service to him… all for his glory!!! Trying my best… to die to myself and embrace the new life he has given me through his death and resurrection! – Arina Pinto, Choir member, Nagoa Verna.
