Couple of days back, it was second August, one of my friend said in a voice message is it Pastor’s day..? Well, usually, first Sunday of August was kept as the Pastor’s day and celebrated by parishioners to honour their pastors in gratitude to the yeomen services celebrating the feast of Saint John Maria Vianney born on 8 May 1786, in the French town of Dardilly France, was baptized on the same day. His parents, Matthieu Vianney and his wife Marie, had six children, of whom John was the fourth. The Vianneys were devout Catholics who helped the poor.
As parish priest, Vianney spent time in the confessional and gave homilies against blasphemy and paganic dancing. At the time, Sundays in rural areas were spent working in the fields, or dancing and drinking in taverns. If his parishioners did not give up this dancing, he refused them absolution!
Due to the Pandemic, all the public church activities have come to standstill. People are wondering whether to go and wish their beloved priests or not. As one of my close acquaintance asked me! If not personally, a call would do to convey your best wishes, I replied. As during these last four months many priest streamed online masses on YouTube in addition to CCRTV channel. Above and beyond, the online mass and the funeral service in the cemetery, St. Alex Church, Calangute, priests every day after the online Eucharistic celebration, has the online Eucharistic Adoration till date, conducted by the parish priest Rev. Fr. Polly Lobo and the residing priests. Also the spiritual needs of the sick and dying are taken care and the supply of ration to the needy through the Parish council members. He also has plans to reach out to parishioners in distributing Communion accordingly after consulting the church Authorities.
During these months mostly in the first lockdown, many churches and chapels reached out to the needy parishioners, migrants and workers. St Joaquim Chapel, Borda-Margao, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Simon D’ Cunha, the Chaplain, who also a fine musician, reached out to the needy people, the daily wage earners with food and essential commodities. The Chaplain left no stone unturned to go out, he acquired the permission from the South Goa District Collector.
When I called to congratulate him, I asked him: “Father what was your feeling when you went out to do this acts of charity”? “Undoubtedly”! He said, “it was the feeling of Joy”!!!. Next question I enquire: “Father, you didn’t get frighten to take this scary step”? “Initially, I had lot of fear!, even now, a little is there!” he replied. “Fear not only for my life but those who were putting their life at risk, the volunteers. But the Lord was there, I was praying” he believed. I had the support of the parishioners who are very co-operative and also financially they helped. Though my friends discouraged me, he retorted, someone must go and reach out, so why not me! This mission is supported by the parishioners of Borda and friends of the parishioners”. An indeed, heroic act!
On this pastor’s day we say a big thank you, to ALL PASTORS. May Jesus, the Good Shepherd bless you to shepherd the sheep under your care and your Patron John Maria Vianney, continue to intercede for you who have lived his life according to the heart of Christ and united his heart to Christ’s, to lead, his sheep on the way to heaven.
