Goa: Book on St. Joseph Released

Margao: A new book – Liplolo Monis: Bhagevont Juze (St. Joseph: A Man of Interior Silence) — written by the Carmelites and edited by John Malvino Alfonso OCD, was released at the hands of Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao at St. Joseph’s Church, Siroda. Also present on the occasion were Parish Priest, Fr. Francis Dias, Superior of the Carmelite Monastery, Fr. Silvestre D’Souza OCD, Fr. John Albano Fernandes, Fr. Luis Gomes, Fr. Jose Fernandes and Fr. Peter.

Speaking on the occasion, Archbishop Filipe Neri congratulated the Carmelites for bringing out a book to promote devotion to St. Joseph. He highlighted the virtues of St. Joseph and appealed the faithful to imbibe the same in their families and personal lives.

The editor of the book, Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD, reminded the gathering about the dedication of this year to St. Joseph by Pope Francis through the Apostolic Letter – Patris Corde. He also explained the two reasons that Pope Francis gave for this proclamation — to mark 150 years after the proclamation of  St. Joseph, as the Patron of the Catholic Church by Blessed Pius IX and to present St. Joseph as the model  during these months of Pandemic.  He also thanked those who contributed for the book.

This book contains  Konkani translation of Patris Corde – Apostolic letter of Pope Francis, articles  by Fr. Silvestre D’Souza OCD and Fr. Jeevan Tauro OCD, explaining the role of  St. Joseph in the Church.

To know St. Joseph better and understand St. Teresa of Avila’s devotion to St. Joseph, different devotion to St. Joseph, hymns in Konkani and in English and the musical notations have been presented.  Konkani hymns have been taken from the Konkani hymnal – Gayonancho Jhelo. English hymns have been written by Fr. Paul D’Souza OCD and Fr. Romeo Monteiro and Fr. Joaquim Loiola Pereira have set them to music. The lyrics of the hymns have been approved by the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy and Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music.  A brief history and pictures of the churches dedicated in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman (Pernem, Usgao, Siroda, Sao Jose de Areal and Dramapur)  are also included in the book.

Archbishop gave his Imprimatur for the book and Parish Priest of St. Francis Church, Borim, Fr. Manuel Gomes was the Censor Deputatus. 

This book is published by the Dhyanavana Publications of the Carmelites.