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International Cuisine Conference on Traditional Asian Diet Panaji, Goa, September 2-5, 2007 - http://www.indologygoa.in Online Media Partner: http://www.goanet.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Re: We Need to take care of our retired priests ! Thank you Albert for bringing this up. I too feel that the retired priests should be well looked after. At this time, it remind me of a priest whom I knew personally and who was very kind, straight forward etc. We as yougsters, gave him a pet name 'Bulgem' (Dolphine) as he sounded like crying dolphine while saying mass etc. His name was Fr. Alban Fernandes. As soon as I heard that the priest is in the clergy home, Porvorim, I visited him the next day. I must have met him after about 18 years. Sadly, he did not recognised me partly because of his illness (partial loss of memory etc ). His room (with attached bath etc) was very untidy and with strong smell of urine. Again, after 6 months I visited him and the situation was the same. There was a lady who also came to visit him (not his relative but could be his neighour) When I was offering some money Fr.Alban was refusing to take but the woman made him to accept. While thanking me, she briefly told me about Fr. Alban's family that they hardly come to see him etc At this time I told Fr. Alban that during my next trip April, I wish to take him to my appartment near Miramar for at least 3 days and that we could go out to Miramar beach etc to which he happily reacted saying 'thank you..., with permission, we are allowed to go and stay out' This shows that he was really looking forward to go out of his oldage clergy home. For some reason I could not make it to Goa during April and came in November (I think) at this time I was told Fr. Alban is no more. May his soul rest in peace. HAI SAIBA!! AIZ MAKA FALEAM TUKA MODDLOLEA FURSAK KONN CHEPEM KADDTA? Besides Bishop House, I feel State should also protect/look after old aged priests. Sate could even use whole or part of their (Priests) share in ancestor's house/property etc I am sure different priests get different treatment. I am sure priest like Fr. Conceisao would get VIP treatment as I have heard (may not be true) from Sancoale and AGAIN from UK that the priest funding Bishop House (privately?) right from his posting at Calangute, Abelim etc Could it be for this reason no action was taken against him for his recent active involment in politics?? ==== Sun Jul 8 06:26:46 PDT 2007 I do not criticise any person but our system.While walking along theroad you see a poor beggar all dirty and looking at you for some money orfood or a lame person who cannot walk and needs help.Your son is studying inthe school.He cannot study mathematics and science and is helplessthough he is good with his hands but the world recognises him as uselessfellow.We have priests working with us. Specially the secular priest.Some of themare under privedged as they are posted as chaplains or vicars of churchessituated in remote areas. You visit these churches and you find the priests allalone and has to cook for himself, clean for himself,etc.His income isvery low. He has to do everything by himself. Take for example the church ofBadem after Assagao. It is situated right on the top of the hill and no soulwithin one kilometer/. Take example of the; church at Torsem on the way toDodomarg. The church did not have a toilet .It was only when the; church washanded to the Paloti fathers and a certain priest was posted there heconstructed toilets by literally begging for alms.Many of the priest due to oldage are sick. Most of them have diabetes. Even though they have completedsixty five sometimes they are never retired.Some of them do not haveanything to rely on at their old age.I met an old priest .He was sick and therewas no one to help him.He could barely walk to visit a house which suppliedhim for food. He even ;had to spend the night all by himself. Lonely .Hisroom is dirty as he himself has to clean it and his sickness has made himdull. For many years he had served the church and its people with dedicationwithout thinking about himself.Their salary does not match the work they do.Neither the people are interested in these sort of priest or the churchitself. Our system is not the right type of system. Now my dear goanetters openyour heart and mind and speak on this rotten system of ours. Whom shall we blame? 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