Yes I know Leon extremely well. Fine guy. Very Talented Musician but very humble and self-effacing
Wish you and your loved ones God’s choicest blessings during the coming year

much love
George

Is it in the Menezes genes to be prepared for death !
Reading this article was enjoyable. Fact or fiction is secondary the primary thing is that it was fun and I have heard about such type of stories from my parents and relatives.
My Late father and his siblings always talked about death and being prepared for it. They all except one died before they turned 67years so they really did not plan their end though they were always prepared for it.
Do you know Mr.Leon D’souza of 14thRoad Chembur he is my dads first cousin.
This is all for now.
Happy New Year in advance.
love
Louella

I am fit now both in mind and body and will hang on to with the help of caring people
like you
The Lord has plans for me and I have an unfinished agenda how they

How wonderful it is for a writer to have people like you not only avidly following what I write but recommending it to be read by your friends.
If this did not happen writers like me would cease to exist or have become an Endangered Species.

I also welcome negative feedback and any advice and suggestions you have. God bless you

This has reference to the various news reports involving Catholic priests in USA and Europe in sex scandals and child abuse cases. There is nothing new in it. The history of the Church reveals that it has been going on for the last two thousand years. A priest’s sexuality is not private, but a public issue. Catholics have been taught to honour and support priests because they profess to have forgone a traditional family to lead sexually chaste lives in prayer and service to the people of the church. Many priests have betrayed this promise/vow, yet they have been allowed to continue as priests. It can be therefore presumed that Vatican does not see celibacy as essential to the priesthood. Married people therefore have every right to be ordained as priests.

Majority of Indian Catholics are under the wrong impression that the tradition of Catholic priests remaining unmarried has been in practice since the times of Jesus Christ. It is not true. In fact, eleven out twelve disciples of Christ were happily married men. And, if you look at the history of the Church, available on the Internet, it will be seen that earlier not only priests, but bishops and popes were also married. Some of them even had more than one wife and mistresses, too. It was at the general ecumenical council held at Lateran (Rome) in 1139 AD during the tenure of Pope Innocent II that the law was enacted for priests to remain unmarried for life. Actually, celibacy is glorious only when it comes from within oneself as a result of meditation and self-realization. It should never be imposed as a pre-condition to priesthood. But the Catholic Church has thrust it upon candidates desirous of becoming priests. Since priestly training begins at the young age and the candidates have to make decision too early in life, many priests have strayed at later stage in their life all over the world. Many have also left priesthood and got married.

According to former American Catholic priest, Fr John Shuster, today’s priesthood/hierarchy is over 50% gay. Gay persons have found a safe and respectable heaven in the priesthood. In Indian tradition, married life is never considered as a hindrance or against spiritual progress. No other religion in the world requires its priests to be unmarried. Even Christian denominations other than Catholics have married priests. The arguments put forth in support of celibate priesthood are not convincing. Married people therefore have every right to be ordained as priests.

You already have the gift of being able to write so well
Start on your book right now. Stress of care giving and the joyous anticipation of a wedding are both great stimuli for creative writing
There is no better time than the present. Shall send you my phone number by Email and talk to you

Thanks
George

Thank you for your kind words. I do not recall having had the privilege of meeting you up close and personal, but I have been present at events where you presided or were the guest of honor and so, admired you from a far!

My parents are from Saligao and so we faithfully attended both the May and the November Saligao events here in Bombay, in fact, it was a ritual, which we grew to love. Thanks to our parents who gave us those roots, we now have wings!

Presently I am in Bombay caring for both my parents, while my kind husband and daughter hold down the fort in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This is going to be a long transition considering the demands of my parents’ health. I joke that this is my sabbatical to write my book — something that I really, really want to do at some point and have been very much encouraged by family and friends. Yes, your writings have been my inspiration too! Our daughter who graduated as an Electrical Engineer last year is getting married this year and then may be after that I can take that leap of faith and chart the course of my book….or may be I should start with a smaller game plan! I welcome any advice or suggestions from you.

Thank you once again,

God Bless,

Astrid