Bishop Alex Dias of Port Blair, Andamans with Pope Benedict XVI for "AD LIMINA APOSTOLORUM"
Sent by Antonio Mascarenhas

"AD LIMINA APOSTOLORUM" is the technical term for the visit every Bishop has to pay to the Holy Father,the Pope,successor of St.Peter.This visit is also called the QUINQUENNIAL VISIT,because it is supposed to be held every 5 years. But somehow that never happens,because the Popes never seem to get enough time !! For example,this year we were called after 8 years.Our previous one was also held after 8 years.It was to be held in 2000,but the Pope(JOHN PAUL II ) was too busy with the GREAT JUBILEE programmes.So, we had been called in 2003.And now once again we came after 8 years.

This is a very official visit of the diocesan bishop to the Holy Father and to the LIMINA APOSTOLORUM.Translated freely it means a VISIT TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE APOSTLES,A VISIT TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR FAITH.It is ,indeed,a pilgrimage . And so we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on the tomb of the Apostle St.Peter,the first Pope.That is in the Basilica of St.Peter.Then we also celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the other 3 Major Basilicas,i.e.BASILICA OF ST: PAUL,BASILICA CALLED ST: JOHN LATERAN (which is the Cathedral of the Holy Father)and the BASILICA OF ST:MARY MAJOR,which is dedicated to OUR LADY OF SNOWS=NOSSA SENHORA DAS NEVES.As you know I am ALEIXO DAS NEVES DIAS,so she is my Patroness !!

There is a long preparation which goes into this pilgrimage and formal visit. Already 6 months before we come here ,every Bishop sends a report of his diocese,drawn up according to the formula the Holy Father sends us.

Each Pope has his own way of doing it.JOHN PAUL II used to meet us 4 times.This Pope met us only twice: Once in a group of 44 Indian Bishops, when he addressed us ,and gave us his message ,and then again in a group of 7. In this latter encounter the Pope spent an hour with us ,7 bishops,talking about our diocese,asking questions, etc. He listens very attentively,and asks some questions.John Paul II used to also invite us in smaill groups to have lunch with him.That used to be a nice "working lunch",with lots of opportunities to interact with the Pope. Benedict XVI does not do that.

So basically AD LIMINA is a pilgrimage to the foundations of our Christian faith so that we,bishops,may grow strong in our own faith,and then endeavour to strengthen Christ's faithful in their faith.

+ Most Rev. Alex Dias s.f.x.
Bishop of Port Blair
Andamans - India

Rev. Joaquim (Jack) Pereira appointed Vicar General for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
http://goankrazy.blogspot.com/2009/06/rev-joaquim-jack-pereira-appointed.html

A Priest from Goa appointed Vicar General

Rev. Joaquim (Jack) Pereira

As per the press release from Most Rev. Bishop Frederick Henry, dated May 31, 2011, Rev. Joaquim (Jack) Pereira has just been appointed as the Vicar General for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with immediate effect.

Father Jack has been serving the Diocese of Calgary for the past 23 years, in various capacities. He chaired the Diocesan Planning Commission, is a Member of the Presbyteral Council and served as a Delegate for the Diocese for the National Federation of Presbyteral Councils. He also served as a Pastor in three parishes of the Diocese. In 2003, he was instrumental in building a new church of the Holy Trinity Parish, Blairmore, Alberta, Canada, where he served for nine years.

Presently he is the Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish, one the largest parishes in the Diocese. Holy Spirit Parish is known to be one of the most vibrant parishes in the Diocese of Calgary.

Oldest of 7 children, Rev. Father Jack Pereira VG, was born in Majorda, Goa to Pedrinho Pereira and Maria Santana de Sa and educated in the Saligao and Rachol Seminaries, Goa, India.

http://www.holyspiritcalgary.com
Author Rohan Lobo at 11:01 PM

Hats Off to the Westend Seniors’ Club (Toronto)
By Armand Rodrigues

Click images to Enlarge

Friday is a social evening for the Westend Seniors’ Club. To stay relevant, the club constantly comes up with innovative activities for its members. Friday, May 19 saw members sporting a garish assortment of headgear, to an extent inspired by the recent extravagant regal display at the wedding of William and Kate. An outsider looking in would be reminded of the proverbial Mad Hatters’ tea party.

Felt, lace, leather, straw, palm fronds, gunny-sacking, embellished with beads, flowers, stuffed animals or fish, furs, egg-shells, a coconut shell and ladle, Rastafarian dreadlocks, and other no-name accoutrements, were a testament to the creative abilities of these seniors. Participation exceeded expectations and brought about a healthy dose of merriment laced with friendly ridiculing of each other’s creations. A parade ensured that all were able to hold their heads up high for preening as caught their fancy.

To ensure that the grey matter under their toppers had not atrophied, there was a contest akin to guessing the number of jellybeans in a jar, except that it was miniature hats in a large broad-brimmed hat, instead. And, to cap it up, the revelry included a flat-hat-balancing relay race between a team of men and women. Sadly, the men failed to keep it up. Their thinning pates let the hat slip and slide.

To compound the fun, each table was provided with sheets of coloured kraft paper, a pair of scissors, a stapler and glue, and in an atmosphere reminiscent of their grandchildren’s kindergarten, had to produce a winning hat in a collective effort. The seniors were all agog and cobbled some impressive “masterpieces”.

It was a fun evening with prizes galore. The new President, Darrel Carvalho, deservedly credited

Judy Lopes shared the album WESr Crazy Hat Rama May 19 20 2011 with you on Windows Live.
http://co121w.col121.mail.live.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0

Rene Barreto: awarded The Karmaveer Puraskaar
Source: http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/

2 Jun: Herald. The all- star delegation from Goa enthralled the fifty thousand or so music- lovers who assembled at Amersfoort, Holland, from all corners of the globe… Armando Gonsalves led the Goan delegation there … One of the highlights of the festival was the awarding of Rene Baretto, a London- based Goan, with the Karmaveer Puraskaar, one of India's highest civil society awards… Next year, plans are in the pipeline to take Goa's music, language and culture to England, France and Germany, apart from the Netherlands...Click here for more detail

The Karmaveer Puraskaar are National People's Awards for Citizen Social Justice and Action instituted by the citizens and people of India. These awards are instituted by iCONGO- Confederation of NGOs – a Public-Private-People partnership in association with other partners from industry, media, government, students, SMEs and other sectors as a part of the Right every Wrong Movement. All the awardees are dubbed ‘The Noble Laureates’. These awards seek to celebrate and inspire individual citizen social responsibility, justice and action initiatives and are held every year on 26 November, the day the Indian Constitutional Pledge was signed.

Fresh Air is CBC Radio's weekend morning show in Ontario.
http://www.cbc.ca/freshair/about/

Hosted by Mary Ito, it's an engaging mix of music, interviews with guests, columnists and contributors, as well as news, weather and more.

Each Saturday and Sunday morning from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., the show highlights the passions and pursuits of the people who call this province home.

Listen to Mary Ito’s in terview with Prita Chhabra

0830 Toronto-based, singer/songwriter Prita Chhabra has no problem with her Indo-Canadian identity... but other people do. That's something that she addresses in her new song Roots. Prita joined Mary to talk about the challenges that she faces...and how she's (cheerfully) surmounting them.

Listen (runs 10:47) to Prita and Mary.

Prita will appear at Toronto's Young-Dundas Square tonight (May 28) at 6:15 as part of DesiFest.

To learn more about her music, visit Prita's website.

Goan singer/song-writer Dahlia Fernandes music video via Toronto
http://dahliafernandes.com/?page_id=17
Sent by : Frederick Noronha on GoaNet | Photo of Dahlia from her website

Singer/song-writer Dahlia Fernandes' music video was officially released at Alleycatz Live Jazz Bar in Toronto on Friday 27th May 2011. In addition to the unveiling of her music video, Dahlia was scheduled to perform her next single 'Jump' at this venue.

Dahlia was declared the winner of a contest that was hosted by TLA Productions last year, entitling her for a music video shoot of her song 'Tomorrow Tonight'. This music video will simultaneously go live on Friday 27th May 2011 on her website: http://www.dahliafernandes.com

Her songs can be download from iTunes and also through her web-site:
http://www.mississauga.com/what's on/article/1014288--fernandes-releases-music-video

See also: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dfernandes

Arcelormittal Orbit: Mittal's twisted tale
http://www.nce.co.uk/features/structures/arcelormittal-orbit-mittals-twisted-tale

A work of public art
The Orbit is the latest addition to the London 2012 Olympic Park, but is not part of the original park plan. it is the product of a competition spawned by London mayor Boris Johnson to find a work of public art and a visitor attraction at the 2012 Games main venue.

London’s answer to the Eiffel?
As it is a tall metal structure, comparisons with the Eiffel Tower are almost inevitable. The team at steel giant ArcelorMittal − sponsors of the project − have ambitions that it will rival the Paris icon in years to come, even if it is not as tall.

What they said At 114.5m tall and a striking red the structure will be hard to miss.
It is said to be designed to emulate the impression of the Forbidden City’s bold colour standing out from a blue sky background in Beijing. Here’s what the promoters say.
“We set out to create a transformational piece of art that will be an iconic symbol for the Olympics and also a new landmark that will endure long after the Games themselves.”
ArcelorMittal chief executive and chairman Lakshmi Mittal

“It is the commission of a lifetime.”
Sculptor Anish Kapoor

“He [Anish Kapoor] has taken the idea of a tower, and transformed it into a piece of modern British art.”
London mayor Boris Johnson

Click here to read full article