Vol. XLll No. 3 Monthly Bulletin of the Bombay East Indian Association March 2017

BOMBAYEAST INDIAN ASSOCIATION

The next meeting of the ManagingCommittee of the Bombay EastIndian Association will be held onTuesday , at 7 p m

Members

, April 4 . . sharp.

Tragedy struck the small fishing village ofVailankanni on the morning of December 28,1955. Bandra, Bombay too, went into shock.Ever since, the name of Vailankanni and thistragedy have been interlinked to the Catholics ofBombay. None of my folks had ever been toVailankanni, but they talked about the Shrineand the tragedy. My first visit to this pilgrimtown was last month. But after paying homageto Our Lady of Health, curiosity made me go insearch of these graves.

On that fateful morning of 1955, Royston, Ralphand Loretta, siblings of the late Fr RodneyEsperance and children of Rose & Lewis, losttheir lives in the treacherous creek of the Bay ofBengal. This creek is barely 1500 meters awayfrom the Shrine. Today their graves are in a mostprominent position on the threshold to theentrance to the rear Shrine where Masses arecelebrated. Subsequently, in 2004, the tsunamistruck this little town again, taking with it over600 pilgrims.

Vailankanni, is a panchayat town inNagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. It lies onthe Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, 350km south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 km southof Nagapattinam. Once a port that traded withRome and Greece, the tiny commercial centergradually lost its importance to the larger city ofNagapattinam. The canal built to link this townwith Vedaranyam still lies to the west. TheVellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River,runs south of the town and discharges into thesea. This is where the Esperance children losttheir lives.

I have numerous friends in the BEIAlike Vivian,Godfrey, Brian, Clement,Anthony, who are die-hard devotees in organising the Septemberpilgrimages, the trains, the bookings, even theEI Mass, I had to visit this place, and experiencetheir belief in its transformative power.After all,you are not just what you eat, or do, or think.Youare what you believe, and have implicit Faith in!

After concluding some business in Pondicherry,visiting the Shrine was at variant. InPondicherry, we had visited the AurobindoAshram and experienced its sacredness,holiness, sanctity and solitude. Onwards wespent time inAuroville, where for a time I felt anAurovilian, where human relationships, which

VAILANKANNI

Jude H. Gomes

The Op-Ed Page

are normally based almost exclusively oncompetition and strife, would be replaced byrelationships of emulation in doing well, ofcollaboration and real brotherhood.

And now I was in this dusty, bustling town ofVailankanni. The main Basilica was underrenovation, the language strange, but thedevotion strong. The Catholic Latin RiteBasilica is devoted to Our Lady of GoodHealth. Devotion to Our Lady of Good Healthof Vailankanni can be traced to the mid-16thcentury and is attributed to three miracles atsites around where the Basilica stands: theapparition of Mary and the Christ Child to aslumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lamebuttermilk vendor, and the rescue ofPortuguese sailors from a violent sea storm.These accounts are based on oral tradition.More than 500 years later, the nine-day festivaland celebration is still observed and drawsnearly 2 million pilgrims each year. The Shrineof Our Lady of Vailankanni, also known as the"Lourdes of the East," is one of the most-frequented religious sites in India.

I was finally here, where numerous friends ofmine travel every year. This is a place of

pilgrimage, the Basilica where miracles happen.I loved the Church of the Morning Star, but I wasmost impressed by the Sand Pit where pilgrimswalk on their knees the distance to Our Lady'sTank, and the Faith, Devotion and Belief withwhich those people tortured themselves for theirreligion.

The Basilica is built in the Gothic style ofarchitecture. The southern side was extended in1928 and the northern in 1933. The ShrineBasilica contains three chapels, and in 1974-75,an extension of the Basilica was built behind theexisting central altar to accommodate themultilingual pilgrims. The extension included atwo-storied church with 93 feet (28 m) highdome and 82 feet (25 m) high gothic spirals. Itwas designed to resemble the Basilica inLourdes, France.

The previous week I had been with friends inNasik for the feast of the Infant Jesus and as inVailankanni and so, too, in Nasik it never ceasedto amaze me at the Faith of these Catholicbrethren who weathered all inconveniences be itchildren, babes in arms, illnesses, parentshandicapped, they travelled the hard way toexperience and express their Devotion in thisstratospheric atmosphere.

In exploring the relationship between religioustolerance and religious tourism, Vailankanni isthe picture of cross sectional analysis oftolerance, where the interaction in thispilgrimage site that renders this small town toassimilate followers of other religions andthereby foster tolerance. Religious tolerancealso has economic overtones, but exactly howmuch influence they may exert on practice oftolerance is any body’s guess. What is obvious isthat the economy of the whole town ofVailankanni runs practically on the businessgenerated by the pilgrims to this great Shrine.Here Prayer seems to work. One might thinkthat going to Vailankanni was a throw of the dicethat was simultaneously a cynosure of optimismand an act of desperation, or by extension,ontological validation. But NO, here Prayerworks.

Who says Christianity is waning in India?

E. I. JOURNAL MARCH 201702

JUDE H GOMES - 9619169150

Adv. VIVIAN D’SOUZA - 9821148712

MS. THERESA AGUIAR - 9820791231

LANCY FERREIRA - 8097474482

PREM MORAES - 9867368669

MELVILLE D’SOUZA - 9820664075

WILFRED PEREIRA - 98206744209619169150

The Editor/ ManagerEast Indian JournalBEIA DeskSt Andrew's Road,Bandra West, Mumbai 400050

THE BOMBAY EAST INDIAN JOURNAL IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE

:

Mr. Jude Gomes

Mr. Wilfred Pereira, PR & GL

9820674420

Contact onMr. Prem Moares

Please visit the website for information on East Indian issues, news and

happenings. You may report any such happening to , Editor

of Bandra on Mobile : of Kirol on

Mobile :

9867368669

9619169150 or

www.tbeia.com

Editor : Mr. Jude H. Gomes

Christine : 9821007588

Mr. Terance D’Mello

The BEIA & the EIJ congratulate Bishops Allwyn

D'Silva and Barthol Barretto on their appointment by

His Holiness, Pope Francis , as Auxiliary Bishops of

theArchdiocese of Bombay.

We assure you of our prayerful support as you

shepherd the people of theArchdiocese, and offer our

blessings to you in your new ministry.

God be with you.

The BEIA & the EIJ CONGRATULATES Mrs. Tulip Brian

Miranda, Kalina and Ms. Steffie Morris Kinny, Manori on their

victories in the Municipal Elections 2017. We are proud of you. Do

make our community proud. God Bless you abundantly.

Congratulations Bishop ALLWYN D'SILVA.

PRAYERFUL CONGRATULATIONS TO

OSWALD CARDINAL GRACIAS, Archbishop of

Bombay on his prestigious appointment to the ROMAN

ROTAby the Holy Father FRANCIS. - B.E.I.A.

Mrs. Tulip Brian Miranda Ms. Steffie Morris Kinny

E. I. JOURNAL03

MARCH 2017

HAPPENINGS:

BOOK REVIEWS

Compiled by Tyronnne Concescio.

Families gathered at the village center on Thursday evening, 23rd February 2017. Dennis Baptista, Vice President of the Matharpacady

Residents Welfare Association ALM welcomed the resident families requesting them to participate joyfully in the short prayer and

worship session followed by entertainment and refreshments. After an opening hymn, Canute led the people in prayer. Then, each

melodious hymn was followed by intercessory prayers by Prayer Leaders from different areas of the village. A round of light

refreshments was served. Groovy music by DJ set the mood and kept feet tapping during the games and at the dance session. Managing

Committee Members Charmaine, Stan, Canute, Renie, Judith, Joe, Gerry, Martin, Percy, Dennis and others ensured that all the 85

family members present were served delicious snacks like samosas, pattice, wafers, cake and mixed fruit juice. On behalf of all

residents and families who were present, Tyronne gave a “Vote Of Thanks” expressing their heartfelt gratitude to the Managing

Committee Members of the Welfare Association for organizing such a wonderful Family Get-Together completely free of cost. He

made special mention and thanked Percy D’Souza, President, for always being most generous in sponsoring gifts for prizes,

refreshments, etc. As Secretary of the Holy Cross Committee, Tyronne requested the village folk to participate devoutly in the ‘Way Of

The Cross” Lenten Services that would be organized around the bylanes of Matharpacady Village and the Novena Services scheduled to

begin on 22nd April and in the 142nd Feast Day Celebrations on 1st May 2017. On behalf of the Managing Committee, he bade all

families a memorable goodnight.

Measures for Healthy Living : For a Healthy Body, Mind and Soul — Think Preventive Health published by the Health Promotion

Trust of the Archdiocese of Bombay, 21 N. Parekh Marg, Mumbai 400 001 (pp. 194, illustrated) no price given, but donations are

gratefully accepted. For private circulation only.

…………………………………………………………….

The Health Promotion Trust (HPT) is an organization of the Archdiocese of Bombay geared to promote healthy habits and attitudes

through prevention rather than cure. HPT promotes naturopathic means of healing, cautions against the artificial ingredients found in so

many foods today, and recommends regular, moderate exercise. The trust is presently headed by Fr. Rocky Banz (St Joseph’s Church,

Vikhroli), and engages the services of a trained and dedicated team of animators to spread its message of “health for all” by the year

2020 (a UN campaign goal).

The Catholic Church is concerned about both the spiritual health and the physical well-being of its members. In many places the Church

runs hospitals and clinics, and lobbies in public whenever governments enact laws which impinge against the rights of the poor,

specially poor women. This is only natural, considering that the Gospels present Jesus as a healer, who spent so much of his public

ministry “preaching and healing”, and reached out to the poor, specially. But the aim of HPT is not merely curative, it is preventive. It

aims to reach out as a priority to marginalized groups, whether in the city or in rural areas, and inform them, not just about not falling

sick, but how to live a healthy and productive life. So ‘holistic health’ – that is, of body and soul – is HPT’s goal and challenge. This

specially relevant considering how impoverished we are in India regarding even the very basic conditions of well-being.

How does HPT set about doing this ? It has a three-fold methodology. Firstly, by training groups of ‘health workers’or ‘para-medics’and

setting up clusters of centres from where they can operate. Presently fifty such centres exist, and Father Rocky’s ambition is to double the

number within three years. The key to HPT’s approach therefore is not technology but interpersonal contact.And it is women who make

the best teachers and health workers, so it’s . no surprise then that women are the mainstay of the HPT system.

Second, the health worker undergoes a training to help her diagnose the ailment, and prescribe the necessary medication. They are

taught the many potent secrets of ordinary herbs and plants, and how these may be used beneficially in times of illness. The local centre

acts as the focal point for this, much as a pharmacy or dispensary does. Which brings us to the third aspect of the programme:

prescription. Most of the centres stock of herbal medications in the form of pills, oils and ointments, which are cheap and easily

available. Naturopathic and herbal medicines are therefore a godsend to the poor in an age which has seen the cost of patent medicines

simply shoot through the roof.

FAMILY GET-TOGETHER IN MATHARPACADY HERITAGE VILLAGE

Health for All - Fr. Myron J. Pereira S.J.

E. I. JOURNAL04

MARCH 2017

The book, Measures for Healthy Living is therefore a compendium of practical information. Not only does it describe the medicinal

values of well-known fruits and vegetables, it also prescribes rituals for healthy living, like exercise, yoga, meditation, acupressure,

sexual hygiene, conscious dieting, etc. Every family should possess a copy and refer to it regularly.

When we look around everywhere we see the health traditions of so many different cultures being re-discovered and re-vitalized. So it is

a matter of pride that the Bombay’s Health Promotion Trust has given new life and wide publicity to our own local treatments. Today as

we increasingly realize the limitations of allopathic medication, we’ re also becoming aware that good health lies in our hands, and are

grateful to Health Promotion Trust for showing us how.

For copies contact Fr Rocky Banz, Health Promotion Trust, St Joseph’s Church, Station Road, Vikhroli (W) 400 079. Tel (022)2579

5972. Mob 961 900 1423. healthpromotiontrust@gmail.com

To

The Editor,

East Indian Journal

Sir,

Thanks for the memory,

Of that old place called ‘Bandra’

Streets shaded by neem and jacaranda.

Gardens green

A suburban queen,

How lovely it was !

Thanks for the memory

Of village life and lingo

“Hey Men!” “Bleddy Fool!” “By Jingo!”

Of feasts and fights,

Cool Christmas nights,

How could we forget?

Bandra’s shot upward and sprawled.

No longer villas white walled!

But it was grand while it lasted.

We lived in style for quite a while !

So thanks for the memory

Of Bandra as it was.

It may have had its flaws.

We loved it then, we love it now,

We really do have cause.

So thank you so very, very much.

Sincerely,

Marie D’Souza

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY

Khari Bhaat was planted where the sea water could come in. This

type of paddy always required salty water for growth; the quality

of the rice was not great and was used for feed for the farm animals.

In the other fields we would sow Kolam rice and then transplant

the same to a bigger area till ripening. The harvest was always

plentiful. We would stock this rice after the thrashing into huge

“Bharnis” or containers made of earthenware and dark brown in

color. We also had our own “gharat” and the local women were

employed to grind the husk and store the rice. Excess had to be

declared to the concerned authorities or the Rationing Department

who would take delivery and store in their government granaries.

The hay from the paddy fields was used to feed the farm animals.

We had a cattle shed in Amboli gaothan, where the animals were

tied for the night. Hay was also stored when cows were not used in

the “nangar” where they were used to drive the China wheels in

turn four hours at a stretch. Such was the life of gentlemen farmers.

Bertram P D'Mello (BPD)

Bertie's Treat-Bits

KHARI BHAAT- PADDY FIELDS

VALERIAN JOEL DREGO

BARBARA MARY ALVES:

VICTOR MOREAS

JULIANA JAMES LOBO

of Kuwait, husband ofChristabelle, father of Kirk and Keance. Son of lateTeddy and Cletty Drego of 28th Road, Bandra, brother

of Jude/Philomena, Norman/Marietter, Anita/Ronnie Pereira,expired on 18th January 2017.

- w/o late Johnnie Alves, m/oBernice/ Tony, Joslyn/Belinda, Jill/ Bill, Jack/ Marilyn, Brian/Ruth, expired on February 19, 2017.

of Mani died 21.2.2017. Funeral was atMani Church.

, w/o James Lobo, m/o Jeffrey andJamaica Lobo of Madh village. Funeral was held on 10th March2017

For Whom the Bells Toll

E. I. JOURNAL05

MARCH 2017

E. I. JOURNAL06

MARCH 2017

News from Uncle Wilfred . . . (Mobile: 9820674420)

REV. FR. HILARY FERNANDES,

“FORGIVEYOUR ENEMY”.

PRAYERFUL BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Rev. Auxiliary Bishop ALLWYN D’SILVA

HAPPYBIRTHDAYGREETINGS : MARCH: Rev. Fr. Warner D’Souza Rev. Fr. Victor

Dalmet

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS:APRIL: Rev. Fr. Hubert Goveas Rev. Fr.

Elias D’Souza Rev. Fr. Edward Jacinto

Rev. Harold Vaz Rev. Fr. Vincent D’Cruz

GET WELL SOON: Rev. Fr. Sanjeev Prasad Pereira

INDIA FAVOURABLE TO POPES VISIT: Narendra Modi

Mrs. Sushma Swaraj

FEASTS OFOUR SAINTS: MARCH St. John Bosco,

PALM SUNDAY– PASSION SUNDAY

HOLYWEEK: Maunday Thursday 13th. Good Friday 14th. Holy Saturday 15th. EasterVigil 15th. Easter Sunday 16th.

DIVINE MERCYSUNDAY23rd.

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE: FEBRUARY: Mrs. Francisca Ferreira Mr. Anthony Barretto

Mrs. Monica F. D’Almeida Mr. Gregory D’Souza Mr. Arthur D’Souza

Rev. Sr. Mary Bernita

FAMILY DAY St. John High School

ETHROS

CITIZENCREDIT CO-OPERATIVE BANK LTD. “INTERACTIVE CUSTOMER MEET”

KURLA VILLAGE: Statue of Our Mother Mary

FIVE EDUCATIONALINSTITUTES

CANDLE LIGHT PEACE PROTEST

Adv. Godfrey Pimenta and Mr. Nicholas Almeida,

Rev. Fr. Evan D’Souza

RECTOR, OLO Vailankanni Shrine, Bhate-Bundar, Uttan, celebrated

Holy Mass on Sunday 19th February, 2017 at 10.00 a.m. parishioners of OLO Fatima Church, Kirol and other

devotees also attended in large groups. In his brief homily Fr. Hilary touched the faithful on the great

commandment

to our Most , St. John the Baptist

Church, Thane on 20thApril. GOD BLESSYOU.

(PC) St. Jude Church, Malad, 24th.

(PP) Infant Jesus Church, Dombivli, 31st.

(PP) St. Francis Xavier Church, Vikhroli, 1st.

, Director, Our Lady’s Home, Dadar, 15th. (PP) OLO Munt Carmel Church, Korlai,

16th. , Rector, Cathedral of the Holy Name Church, Colaba, 17th. , Catechetics,

Pastoral Centre, Bandra, 22nd.

, Editor-Publisher, St. Joseph Church, Vikhroli was hospitalized. He is

keeping better. Praise the Lord.

Our three Cardinals met our Prime Minister, on 7th February,

2017 in New Delhi to invite our Pope. , our External Affairs Minister has also extended invitation to our

Holy Father Pope to visit India when she had visited Vatican during Mother Teresa’s canonization. Pope may visit India in 2017.

: Commemoration of 31st.

: Palm Sunday – The Lord’s Passion 9thApril.

, Mahim, 6th. ,

Marol, 10th. , Andheri, 11th. , Papdy, Vasai, 12th. ,

Bandra, 14th. , Carmalite, Bandra, 23rd.

at , Thane was joyfully celebrated on 5th February, 2017. The Parishioners attended the

function in large numbers.

was celebrated with much pomp and gaiety at different villages. We thank the associations for extending invitation to

BEIA.

had organized at ELITE

Restaurant, Kohinoor City, Kurla on 23rd February, 2017 afternoon. The meeting was largely attended.

was found desecrated on Sunday 19th February, 2017 by two bike borne

men. Kurla villagers and social activists and religious protested peacefully in large numbers. The culprits are under arrest and the

matter is being attended by our lawyers.

PROPOSED for the MINORITIES by next year.

was organised on Saturday, 4th March, 2017 from 7.30 p.m. onwards by the villagers of

Sahar Village headed by protesting against the draconin development

designs of MAIN and the survey carried out in Sahar village, starting from Cargo Complex and ending at the old Cross, Opp

Terminal 2. The attendance was overwhelming, Parish Priest deserves huge thanks for his marvellous

motivation.

“WHILE DRIVING, PLEASE OBSERVE SAFETY RULES”.

“PLEASE SEND YOUR ARTICLES EARLY”.

“HAVE MERCY ON US, OH LORD, FOR WE HAVE SINNED”.

E. I. JOURNAL07

MARCH 2017

ON SUNDAY 23 APRIL 2017.rd

From 6.30 P.M. ONWARDS AT THE BANDRA GYMKHANA

Come Participate & Enjoy the Cultural Heritage of:

“The SONS OF THE SOIL”

E. I. JOURNAL08

MARCH 2017

Statement of Ownership

Trustees:

and other particulars about the newspaper (The East Indian Journal) to be published inthe first issue every year after the last day of February

c/o B.E.I.A. Desk, St Andrew’s Road, Bandra, Mumbai-400050.

Monthly.

Mr. Terance D’MelloIndianCRASSANTS PRINT SHOP, VIDYAVIHAR, MUMBAI 400086

Adv. Vivian D’SouzaIndianc/o B.E.I.A. Desk, St Andrew’s Road, Bandra, Mumbai-50

Mr. Jude H GomesIndianc/o B.E.I.A. Desk, St Andrew’s Road, Bandra, Mumbai-50

Trustees of the Bombay East Indian Association.

. 1. Adv. Vivian D’Souza, Kurla, Mumbai2. Ms. Theresa Aguiar, Bandra, Mumbai

I, Adv. Vivian D’Souza, declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Dated: 14 February 2017 sd. Adv. Vivian D’Souza,Signature of the Publisher.

1. Place of Publication:

2. Periodicity of the Publication:

3. Printer’s Name:Nationality:Address:

4. Publisher’s Name:Nationality:Address:

5. Editor’s Name:Nationality:Address:

6. Names & Addresses of Individuals who own Newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more than onepercent of the Capital:

Form II (See Rule 6 (1))