Building a Faith Community for Service

ey STONE
ST. PETER’S CHURCH BANDRA

NEWSLETTER
COMMITMENT LIVING FAITH INTEGRITY CONCERN (CLIC)

Visit us at: http://stpetersbandra.com DECEMBER 2024 - JANUARY 2025

The Heart of Christmas

On 24th October 2024, Pope Francis promulgated a new Encyclical ‘Dilexit Nos’ (He loved us)
centered on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the unconditional love of Christ for us.
The Encyclical invites us to enter more deeply into the profound mystery of the Sacred Heart,
symbol of God’s boundless love. This is a heart that beats for all of God’s children;
it beats for you and me.

The Feast of Christmas is a special time when we encounter this boundless love and feel ourselves
being transformed by it. There is an aura of magic that surrounds this feast – the tender glow
that surrounds the crib, the lilt of timeless carols, the delightful lights all over and the warmth shared
at the family table. This is a season of grace when we feel ourselves understanding a little more
of this mystery that will always lie beyond our full comprehension.

Our celebration of Christmas will naturally include the external, material expressions
that we are accustomed to – sweets, presents, decorations, festive meals etc. They can be expressions
of genuine joy and it would be foolish to suggest that we should do away with them.
What we do ask for, however, is that each of these expressions lead us back to the source,
back to the heart of God, who made himself a little child for us.

As we delve deeper into this love, may we re-discover the love that lies at the heart of all
our Christmas practices. Let us enjoy the beauty of the traditional carols, appreciate the generosity
of those who give us presents, savor the goodness of different delicacies and delight in the sheer joy
of being with one another. Along with all this, may we also find time to stand before the crib
in awe and gratitude, whispering this well-loved prayer
“Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine”

Wishing you and your loved ones a grace-filled Advent,

a joyful Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

-Fr. Luke Rodrigues s.j.

 The Exposition of
St. Francis Xavier
St. Francis Xavier, one of the founding members of the Society
of Jesus, dedicated his life to sharing God’s love across Asia,
especially in India, Malacca, and Japan.

Arriving in Goa in 1542, lovingly known as “Goycho Saib” by the Goan people,
St. Francis Xavier ignited a spirit of compassion and unity that endures to this day.
He learned local languages, cared for the sick, and tirelessly preached, creating a foundation
of faith that continues to inspire.

This November, millions of pilgrims will gather in Old Goa for the XVIII Solemn Exposition
of his sacred relics. As the opening Eucharist and procession begins on 21st November 2024,
this time of devotion aligns with the Jubilee Year 2025 theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” and the
Exposition theme, “We are Messengers of the Good News.”

Through prayer and reflection, pilgrims are invited to see their lives as journeys
of compassion, service, and hope. This Exposition not only honours a saint
but invites each pilgrim to walk the path of humility, service, and hope,
resonating with the sacred message that faith, though deeply personal,
unites us in a universal call to goodness, grace and love of our neighbour.

-Fr. Fabian Barreto s.j.

Pope’s Intention
January 2025

Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war,

that their Right for an education,
which necessary to build a better world,
might always be respected.
 Gratitude Tree
As the year draws to an end,
there is so much to be grateful for!
Thank you to all our parish associations.

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“For all that has been - Thanks

To all that will be- Yes!”
-Dag Hammarskjold
 The Confraternity celebrated
in traditional pomp and glory!
Agera

Talk
Tech The Almeida Park Community offered a thanksgiving
Mass on the Feast of Archangel Raphael,
the Patron Saint of the zone. Karan D'lima gave a
much appreciated short talk on technology and on
how to use the mobile phone.

ed !
pli sh
ccom “For where two or three are gathered together

ion A in my name, there am I.”

Miss Thank you to all our communities

and to all who contributed and volunteered
to raise funds for the Ashaghad Mission.
Bonded in love The Good Shepherd Community celebrated
the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Blessing of Pets Sharing and Caring at a mini fete .

Singles... just wanna have fun!!

The Singles Unplugged Social was celebrated by the Ekatvam Group
to mark World Singles Day on 11th November 2024.
It was Fun, Friends and a touch of Magic!!!

Unwind
The St. Peter's Youth group organized "Unwind", a vibrant programme dedicated to senior
citizens. The programme featured a variety of engaging games, including housie,
dumb charades and riddles, creating an atmosphere of joy and laughter.
 "Our differently abled young adults are so talented" mused a volunteer of the Social Outreach
Cell. "And how they love to perform" piped in another. "Let's give them a platform to showcase
what they do" exclaimed a third...and so was born "Yes We Can!” And what a thrilling morning
of song and dance and joy and energy and fulfillment it turned out to be!
Our young adults, their eyes shining with suppressed excitement, mesmerized us as they created
magic on stage. Their uninhibited, straight-from-the-heart performances awed all
and brought a tear to many an eye.
I'm not usually a weepy, sniffly person, but that morning, I activated the dried-up tear ducts!
In days to come, memories of Yes We Can will envelop us all - performers, parents and
volunteers - in a warm, happy glow! -Berna Mascarenhas

Deep gratitude to every member of the SOC,

Fr. Baptist, Bharat sir, Tracy miss, Brothers Roshan
and Crescent...for ALL that you do for our young adults.
Our young adults were so happy today...performing/
watching themselves on screen...irrespective of what they
did. It was so heartening to watch such pure souls,
full of love.
Absolutely no words to express our thanks...
just deep deep gratitude.
- Rashmi Nambiar (Parent)

Thank you so much for organising today's event.

Your tireless efforts and dedication to creating an unforgettable
entertainment event for neurodivergent adults have left the
audience in awe. Your collective passion, creativity and compassion
have made a profound impact on the lives of your guests. From
conceptualization to execution, every detail was meticulously
planned and flawlessly executed. Your teamwork is commendable.
This event not only provided a platform for socialization and
inclusivity, but also celebrated the unique talents and strengths of
our neurodivergent community. Keep up the good work!
-Lilian and Oscar Netto (Parents)

We paused in prayer to remember Dr Keki Gharda,

who passed away on the 30th of September, 2024.
He was the benefactor of the SOC for many years.
Dr Gharda was also an outstanding Stanislite.
May he rest in peace.
Kudos to the organisers and especially the choreographer
who trained the group dancers. They were far better than
all we see in noisy Bollywood. Why? Here was each one
shaking a leg with gay abandon, each doing their 'own
number', listening to their own music...and yet collectively
synchronised. For those of us with two left feet, this was
the perfect setting. Can I too be given an opportunity by the
St. Peter's Social Outreach Cell to unearth hidden talent?
This bunch pushes me to shout Yes We Can!
Fr. Lawrie Ferrao s.j.
(Ex Principal, St. Stanislaus High School)
I was deeply moved to see the display of talent
by our differently abled young adults.
To see these young adults so deprived of certain faculties
and yet only showcasing what they CAN do,
and doing it so joyfully. Their enthusiasm was indeed
infectious.
The mantra “Yes We Can” will always stay with me.
Mrs. Genevieve Martins
(Parishioner)

Ordained on 9th November, 2024

A warm welcome to
Fr Ivan D’Souza s.j. who
will join the parish team by
Congratulations mid December. He served
Fr. Frankie Nunes s.j. in Holy Family Church,
Wishing you the very Andheri. He is also the
best in your priestly Province Youth Coordinator
ministry! for the Bombay Jesuits.
 Bandra Treasure Hunt 2.0
The YSS and Ekatvam organized a well curated treasure hunt with 80 enthusiastic participants in
8 teams. The tricky and edgy clues heightened the level of cheer and fun.
A beautiful Sunday indeed!
On the same morning, a free Eye Camp, was organised in the Loyola Hall
through the kind courtesy of the Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital,
where around 150 people availed of the service.
-Deanne Rodrigues

The Jesuit team

of St. Peter’s wishes you
a prayerful Advent,
a joyous Christmas and
a wonderful New Year!
Tribute to lives of love and service...
What a friend we had in Johnny...

“Forget the rest, do your best, we are the YSS”

- John Murzello
26.07.1970 - 30.10.2024

“Your advice - Take it easy. The Lord will provide”

“Childhood wouldnt be what it was, without you.”
“You were with me when tough times came.”
“Deeply appreciative of every volunteer.”
“Always supportive and encouraging”
“My mentor and best friend”
“Age was never a boundary.”
“Compassionate and Caring”
“A kind hearted man”
“Inspiration to all.”
“A father figure”
“A happy soul”

shared
ri es
Memo S S
th e Y
by

The Medical Centre remembered

Mrs Meher Sidhwa with affection and gratitude.
She was a dedicated volunteer at the centre
for nearly 10 years.

-Fr. Trevor Miranda s.j.

09.10.2024
 Small Steps, Big Impact:
The 3 Rs for a Better World
“Watch your actions, they become habits
Watch your habits, they become character
Watch your character, it becomes your Destiny”
….Lau Tzu
Let us live by this motto. Rethink and Refine our actions.
Think “sustainable”. With a new year approaching and resolutions being made (and broken),
let us work on simple,sustainable solutions, respecting Mother Earth.

epair, not discard educe meat consumption epurpose old items creatively

liminate single-use plastic ngage in recycling projects

xchange versus buy
ownsize, declutter
onserve water
se eco friendly products
ou be the change you want to see
se refillable bottles
ave electricity, switch to LED ompost waste
arry reusable bags
mbrace minimalism ive mindfully
at locally grown food
Every step counts, every change matters! ducate friends and family

STEP UP AND CHANGE!! -Janet D’Souza

The gift of Listening...

But you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Th
Six
Just listening.
at
do
n’tgift
Of Affection...
Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back.
st
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Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. ve
!

Of Laughter...
Share funny articles, funny stories and funny greetings.
Your gift will say "I love to laugh with you"

Of a Written Note...
It can be a simple "Thanks for the help" note.
A brief handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime,
and may even change a life.

Of a Compliment...
A simple and sincere "You look great in red", "You did a super job"
or "That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day.

Of a Favour...
Everyday go out of your way to do something kind.
 The Times

they are a changing...

We entered a new millennium
With hope , joy and show
A new beginning for everyone
Y2K was the way to go
But 25 years into this new century
What has changed?
Not much, you can see
‘Cept the times they are changing.

Looking back to the dreams we had

Of a better world, away from what’s bad
But that hasn’t quite happened
It’s really quite sad.
Still we live in hope that things get less mad
‘Cos the times they are changing.

More Eco awareness, more healthy we eat

We use less plastic, less litter on our streets.
Reduce, recycle, reuse is our new imaging
We’re trying our best, there’s no time to rest
Because the world, it is changing.

Come 2K25, and what do we see?

There’s wars, pollution and more misery
As Dylan said it all so well …
‘The present now will later be past
The first one now will later be last
The old order is rapidly ageing
For yes - the times are a-changing.

So what lies ahead for us ‘ Pilgrims of Hope? ‘

Remember, He is the source for us all to see
Our hope lies in You, O Lord
As we enter this year of the Jubilee
May we see and do what is good and right
And though times and seasons are changing
You stay the same, our Loving God
Our hope, our guide, our source of life …Amen !
-Bunny Cardoz
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UNITED IN CHRIST
Ursula Trodelle Misquitta & Anis Julius De’souza Waroda Road
Philomena Victoria Fernandes & Feviano Fernandes Waroda Road
Beulah Savinne Coelho & Calvin Anthony Andrade Waroda Road
Merlin Elizabeth D’souza & Austin Francis Castelino Somnath Lane
Sonali Devika Maria Correa & Mark Alvito Nicholas Fernandes Almeida Park

REST IN CHRIST
Subhash Guha 26.09.2024 Elco Arcade, Hill Road
Audrey Fishery 03.10.2024 Church Street
Owen James Menezes 09.10.2024 1st Road, TPS IV
Dennis D’mello 09.10.2024 Hill Road
John Simon Murzello 30.10.2024 Elco Arcade, Hill Road
Oswald Nunes 14.11.2024 Almeida Park
Santosh Desouza 14.11.2024 Almeida Park

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