Why am I a Christian? I am a Christian today because my parents made me a Christian and if I am a Roman Catholic today since my birth, also it is because of my parents who got me baptized into this denomination when I was totally ignorant and unaware of this Baptism that made me a follower of Roman Catholicism. I don’t dislike Roman Catholicism but I dislike the system of Roman Catholicism and the cunningness, greed for money and illicit sex by its clergy and the feudality of the heads of Roman Catholicism who live like Emperors – Sheikhs – Kings - as against the mode of simple living of Jesus Christ. Our Bishops and top leaders of our Church the way they are living it looks that they are rebelling against the teachings of Christ who lived a simple life. Can we respect our Bishops with the same reverence as we give to Christ knowing our Bishops living the life style of the Maharajahs? Why Bishops only, even all those who live in the palatial edifice of the Bishop and other top Church leaders too, it looks that they are promoting not Christianity thru Catholicism but they are promoting something else other than Christianity. Jesus Christ was born not in the luxurious Palace nor brought up in the Palatial building like that we have one at Panjim Altinho, those who are living there in the name of Catholicism to promote Catholicism are not serving the Christianity but they are serving only their own interest, at least this is the impression they give.
All the top leaders in the hierarchy of Roman Catholicism are a burden on Christianity. Their behaviour and lavish life style with pompousness reflect very badly on their vocation. Some of the rites they perform in the Church are unnecessary which simply waste our time by keeping us unnecessarily busy thereby preventing us from doing something productive for our betterment. Because of this system Roman Catholic Countries are not advanced as they should have been. For example, in the highly developed Western Europe the two predominantly Catholic nations Portugal and France are far backward compared to others. Similarly, if you see the South American countries where almost all are Catholics, they are good only in soccer and if you see Philippine where Catholicism is the main religion, the poverty is too much there. And if you observe in Goa where numerically the Catholics are in good number, the economy is controlled by the non-Catholics inspite of Catholics being affluent. The major industry Mining is in the hands of Salgaocars, Chowgules, Dempos etc. There is no Fernandes, Dias and D’Souza there. So also the other major businesses are handled by them only. That means we are far backward. Is our Catholicism to be blamed for not tuning us to be able to face the competitive life? Or our good for nothing Padris kept us backward saying "We Christians are not meant for doing business meaning business is meant for corrupt people only and because we are not corrupt by virtue of being Christians - Catholics - we should not go for business?
The increasing number of non-Catholic denominations in Goa is the direct challenge to the Catholic system prevalent. The system these denominations are practicing as per them is exactly as scripted in the Bible. Last week I attended the prayer service of Pastor Domnick D'Souza in Siolim where to my astonishment I saw about a Thousand people attending his one service alone under "DOMNIC & JO-AN MINISTRIES" where he was also performing the Healing Service and many infact were healed in my presence. He performs his services in English and in Konkani and in the name of God he heals and cures the sick. What a mighty job is conducted there to spread the word of God!! It is unimaginable even though earlier I had different opinion of this Ministry but only after witnessing personally last Sunday and this Sunday too I had to admit the real fact. It is not a joke to organise these services in such a massive scale where so many volunteers are serving as ushers and doing their jobs with smile and patience thereby undergoing lot of sacrifices in order to serve God and mankind. It is not only what I said above but after finishing the 10.00 am service even delicious Lunch is served for such a massive attendees without even charging a single paisa.
It is not once in a week but his services "Healing Retreat" are organised on Thursdays and Fridays (8.00 am to 12.30 pm); On Saturdays (6.00 am, 8.30 am, 11.30 am, 5.30 pm; On Sundays (6.00 am, 9.30 am, 10.00, 12.30 am, 5.30 pm - they are all in Siolim and in Panjim at Akash Hall, Akash Building, 1st Floor, Opp.Mathias Plaza, NR Kedar Hospital, Panjim, at 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm on Sundays and in Margao at Holy Family Prayer Hall, Jackniband Dramapur, Margao, Salcette-Goa on Sunday at 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
It is not once in a week but his services "Healing Retreat" are organised on Thursdays and Fridays (8.00 am to 12.30 pm); On Saturdays (6.00 am, 8.30 am, 11.30 am, 5.30 pm; On Sundays (6.00 am, 9.30 am, 10.00, 12.30 am, 5.30 pm - they are all in Siolim and in Panjim at Akash Hall, Akash Building, 1st Floor, Opp.Mathias Plaza, NR Kedar Hospital, Panjim, at 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm on Sundays and in Margao at Holy Family Prayer Hall, Jackniband Dramapur, Margao, Salcette-Goa on Sunday at 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm.
Besides this at Siolim, there are elsewhere too such services conducted by the different non-Catholic denominations where the congragations are also provided with bodily needs such as Rice, Cooking Oil, Flour etc. These denominations are not asking money and donation, however, if willingly given, accepted. They dont go after money from their followers, they dont tax their followers financially but try to ease their financial burden by even assisting their followers with financial help. For these reasons they are followed by innumerable followers all over whose bodily and spiritual needs are very much taken care of. And as time moves on, their following will increase and multiply.
During my recent visit to Kuwait I also joined the prayer service of Pastor Savio Paes who I found so powerful and so holy that his healing are having miraculous effects. According to those who were eye witness to his healing power they say Pastor Savio originally from Saligao is the most blessed Pastor whose curative healing power even I have experienced first thru on line in Goa not once but twice and last time when I went to Kuwait where he accorded me warm welcome in his Church constantly praying over me and also looking well after me. In fact I was like his guest flew to Kuwait especially for receiving his healing. He is knoown to heal persons lying on death bed.
Our Roman Catholic Church was too discriminatory for this reason many of our Catholics were frustrated and were waiting for something new which they found in these non-Catholic denominations where all are treated with all the kindness and equality. THE only rigidity in these denominatioins are that they dont agree rightly or wrongly adoring and praying to Mother Mary who by virtue of being the Mother of Jesus Christ, Catholics give top importance to her. If these non-Catholic denominations tone down their opposition to Mother Mary there is every possibility for flooding these denominations with more and more following. When Mother Mary comes on to the fore, it becomes like a Indo-Pak war for some non-Catholic denominations.
A.Veronica Fernandes.