My hearty Congratulations to the Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal on completing 25 years
of service !
From small beginnings with a few members it has grown into a network of prayer groups all over
the Archdiocese. It has helped people to learn to pray and to come closer to the Lord.
While I congratulate the leadership and its members, I pray that the Lord continues to bless
the Renewal – guiding it with the Spirit and bringing about a deep renewal in the lives of many, many people.
God’s blessings on each one of you.
August 11, 2008
+ Oswald Cardinal Gracias
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I am happy to learn that the Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal will be celebrating its
Silver Jubilee. It is indeed a memorable event. Congratulations! A Silver Jubilee is an occasion to count blessings. For the
Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal, I am sure there are numerous blessings to count, perhaps too many to count!
Like the mustard seed in the Gospel parable, the Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal has grown
from a tiny seed into a mighty tree. Today, as it looks back over the past 25 years, it can thank God for the many people
that have encountered Jesus through its instrumentality. It has done so much to help people experience Jesus as their personal
Lord and Saviour.
May God shower His blessings on the members of the Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal! May
Our Lady be your guiding force as you continue to lead individuals and families to Jesus, the Good Shepherd!
August 25, 2008 + Agnelo Gracias
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay
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The Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of Bombay is
celebrating its Silver Jubilee Year. This is undoubtedly a landmark event for this movement, a sign of God’s blessings
and approval. I am especially happy about this and about all that the Konkani Service Council has been doing over the past
twenty five years because, quite often, our Konkani speaking Catholics do not get sufficient attention.
The history of the last 25 years has been an inspiring story of growth. Over thirty priests
have been supporting the retreats; there are now thirty three Konkani prayer groups in the Archdiocese. There is also an All
Mumbai Youth Group and a rich array of services and facilities offered to participants of this movement. This has been due,
in no small measure, to the zeal of the Leaders and of the Council.
I want to wish the Jubilee Celebrations every success. I am sure all the plans and programmes
planned for this year will help to launch the movement into the next twenty five years when, slowly but steadily, silver will
turn into gold.
September 3
+ Bishop Bosco Penha
Co-ordinator - Lay Associations
Archdiocese of Bombay
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Konknni Katolik Karismatik Novsorrni, Mumbaichea
Dhormprantantli, hea vorsa Rupea Utsov Somorombhta. Hea nimitan ek Karismatic Mellavo astolo Outubrache 26ver tem 29ver 2008,
Sant Paul Igorjent, Parel.
Pattim pollelear, Novsornneche survatek thaun, ani sogglem boreponn jem hea pattlea 25 vorsanim
amkam gavlam tacher niall korun, khoreponnich amchean mhonnum-ieta: Povitr Atmeachea margdorxannan ani sfurtenuch hem amkam
favo zalam.
Poilo Konknni Magnneacho Zomo, Fr. Francis Pinto CSSR hannim, Perpet Socorro Saibinniche Igorjent,
Chembur-hanga ghoddun hadlo. Tachea pattlen Fr. Elias Pereira, SJ hannim hem kam bore bhaxen fuddem vhelem St. Anne Igorjent,
Mazagaon. Uprant sabar Firgozamni nove zome ghoddun aile.
Zaite amche Dhormprantantle padri, hurbhen Karismatic Novsornnek margorxonn ani tenko ditat.
Veg-veglleo kariavolli vaddot asat ani titlench nhoi, tantunt otmik khollai ani novi xokti amkam disun ieta.
Povitr Atmean Sogllea padrink, motthvaxeank, ani grihosti fuddarenk sfurti dium ani hozaramnim
vangddi Povitr Tritvechea, Bhagevont Ankvar Moriechea ani Igorjechea mogan tim vaddum. Hem voros Devachea Utrak bhettoilelem
mhonntoch, Konknni Karismatik Novsornni ek mozbut xokti zaum amcheam konknni uloupi lokank. Devachea Utrachea mogan tim vaddum,
tem odik khollaien tim somzum ani Devachea Utra promonnem tim sodanch jieum.
September 5, 2008
+ Ferdinand J. Fonseca
Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay
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I am glad to note that on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Konkani
Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in this Archdiocese, a Souvenir is being brought out. It will project the growth of
a small seed that was sowed in1976 in a parish by a priest and his team together with some lay leaders, which becomes a large
tree with 33 Prayer Groups, whose members involve themselves in various Parish Associations and Activities, making the life
of parishes more and more vibrant.
Any involvement of the laity in the life of the Church, particularly when its ethos is based
on PRAYER, is bound to succeed in making the Church more and more relevant and life-giving. This, I believe, has happened
with the Konkani Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement. This is not surprising, since in the City of Mumbai the Konkani speaking
Catholics form a large percentage.
I pray that this movement may grow and that each member of the movement keep trying to become
a genuine witness of Jesus’ presence in the community in which she or he lives. There is no better way to propagate
the message of Jesus, other than the one which He Himself has taught us: "By this shall all know that you are My disciples,
that you love one another." John 13 : 35
+Percival Fernandez
Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay
August
04, 2008 : Feast of St. John Marie Vianney
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It is with great joy that I congratulate the Konkani Service Council as it
launches out on a four-day celebration to commemorate the beginning of the Konkani Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese
of Bombay. Anniversaries are grace-filled times when we recall the love and faithfulness of God the Father manifested through
His Son, Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. It helps us remember how He accompanies every effort made to establish His
Kingdom and brings the seeds planted to full growth. It is also a time to remember with gratitude all those who were instrumental
in establishing Konkani prayer groups in different parishes and who helped to give direction and encouragement during the
difficult times.
The Early beginnings can be traced way back to 1976 when the first Konkani Prayer Group was
formed at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church. Chembur under the leadership of Fr. Francis Pinto, CSSR and his team. The
Lord began to provide pastors and leaders such as Fr. Elias Pereira SJ, the late Msgr. Jonathan Dias, and other priests. Today
there are about 30 priests supporting and working along with the Retreats being conducted by a team of lay leaders every month.
It is a source of wonder that each retreat is full and at times there are waiting lists for these retreats.
For the Bombay Service Team it is also a time of rejoicing, since the Konkani Service Team works
in harmony and cooperation with it and its present Chairperson, Mr. Elias D'souza, represents it on the BST. As Chairperson
of the Bombay Service Team I want to extend warmest congratulations on its behalf to all the members of the Konkani Catholic
Charismatic Renewal on this joyous occasion. Their zeal, joy and commitment to Jesus is commendable. The Lord, who has begun
this great work will certainly bring it to completion. May there be showers of graces and blessings poured out on each and
every member.
Luz Maria Engineer
Chairperson, Bombay Service Team
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I Praise and Thank God for His Faithfulness to the Konkani Charismatic Renewal in the city of
Mumbai over the past twenty-five years, and also the co-operation of the Konkani Service Council, to this Grace of God to
them.
As I have gone on and off for Confessions at the monthly Retreat at the Bandra Retreat House,
I have never ceased to be amazed at the number of people who come for these Retreats. So much so, that there has to be a waiting
list. Over here I think the Commitment of the leaders comes out very strongly. Also their Personal Commitment to the Lord
in their Personal Prayer and Scripture Reading, which comes out in the Charisms that are manifested.
I also Praise and Thank God for the way they have grown and the many Programmes they have had
over the past twenty–five years. For the All round development you’ll have worked for viz, Parish Renewal, Youth
Cells, Bible Study, Growth Retreats, Rallies, Outreach Programmes and Live-ins, etc.
I Congratulate you and wish you’ll all the Best for the next Twenty-five years, that God
may take you’ll from Glory to Glory. And as Scripture says in Isa 43:18-19 ‘There is no need for you to recount
the past, behold I am doing something new in your midst.’ That you’ll catch this New Wave of God’s Grace,
so that you’ll soar to Greater Heights that the Lord has planned for you’ll.
With All my Prayers and Good Wishes
Fr. Roland Fialho
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