PANJIM: O Heraldo, Goa largest circulated daily, celebrated the 41st anniversary of its English edition, on Thursday. The Portuguese edition of O Heraldo, which was founded in 1900, changed over to
English on October 10, 1983, in tune with the changing readership.
The day began with prayer and thanksgiving to God by the staff of Herald Publications, with the celebration of the anniversary Mass at Sao Tome Chapel, Panjim. The celebrant Fr Jorge Fernandes, Director of Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate said, “We have to herald the voice of love of God to the world. He also said O Heraldo’s mission is to give a bigger picture of the truth.”
Delivering the homily at the Eucharistic celebration which was attended by the family of O Heraldo, Dainik Herald, Herald TV and administrative, advertising and circulation staff, Fr Jorge emphasised two points - he said, “We need to ‘love what we do’ and herald God’s love to the world, and secondly, we need to ‘look at the
bigger picture’.”
Fr Jorge said, “We are not sent forcefully into this world. God has sent us with a mission. This mission is something beautiful. People have to make God’s mission their mission, and that mission is one of love. We have seen so many martyrs in history. Even the jawans give up their lives not only for the country, but for God.”
“O Heraldo is also a mission, not only to pass on what is happening round the world (news), but each and every story we write, needs to give the bigger picture of God’s love; to give humanity the message that our life is a valuable life. We have to respect that life, and that God or Brahma has created us,” he said
Emphasising the larger role of the media to transform society and humanity, Fr Jorge said, “Unless I find the real truth in the story, I can’t give the story to others. If we want to transform society and humanity I need to experience God and the spiritual power that is in my life, then only our O Heraldo can be a real voice of God.”
The sonorous choir comprising Lavina Mendonsa, Savia D’Souza, Frazer Andrade and musicians Pio Esteves on the guitar and Santan Fernandes on the keyboards, added to the solemnity of the occasion.
After the Mass, the portrait of O Heraldo Founder A C Fernandes was garlanded by Walter D’Sousa, Publisher and Fr Jorge Fernandes blessed the premises of Dainik Herald, Herald TV and O Heraldo.