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About Fr. Vincent Barboza Fr. Vincent Barboza is a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Bombay, currently serving in the Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand. Raised in Mumbai, India, with roots in Mangalore, Karnataka, Fr. Vincent brings a rich blend of cultural heritage, spiritual dedication, and pastoral care to his ministry. Pastoral Ministry With over two decades of priestly service, Fr. Vincent has ministered to diverse parishes, focusing on nurturing faith communities through the sacraments, pastoral care, and faith-based programs. His pastoral assignments have included roles in Mumbai, New Zealand, and beyond, where he has passionately worked to build communities rooted in Christ. Faith Formation and Outreach Programmes Fr. Vincent is dedicated to empowering individuals to grow in their faith and live a Christ-centered life through: Faith Education: Courses on Catholic Evangelization, Apologetics and Theology. Spiritual Renewal: Retreats and seminars for personal and communal growth. Sacramental Guidance: Resources and teachings to deepen understanding of the sacraments. Youth Engagement: Programmes like spiritual sessions, value education, prayer methods and memory techniques for school students. Community Outreach: Providing theological insights and spiritual resources for individuals and groups, such as workshops for different communities on life skill and faith, visits to hospitals, rest homes, retired villages to offer spiritual support and sacraments and organizing charitable drives for food, clothing and education supplies. A Call to Serve Rooted in the Gospel call to be “the salt of the earth and light of the world” (Mt 5:13-16), Fr. Vincent’s ministry is dedicated to leading people closer to God through faith education, spiritual enrichment, and sacramental life. His mission is to inspire, guide, and walk alongside individuals on their journey toward Christ. Discover More Explore his vocation story , weekly reflections, inspiring testimonies, faith-filled videos and thoughtful blogs to engage more deeply with the Catholic faith and its teachings.

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Called by God: My Journey to the Priesthood Experiencing God’s Love and Saying Yes to His Call Introduction: Family background and upbringing I am Fr. Vincent Barboza, a diocesan priest for the Archdiocese of Bombay. Born and raised in a traditional Catholic family in Mumbai, faith was the cornerstone of our household. The family rosary was a daily ritual, and Sunday Mass was non-negotiable, except in cases of illness. Despite being a devout Catholic, the thought of priesthood never crossed my mind. The Turning Point: God's Experience at the retreat Looking back, I can clearly see how God’s hand guided me, step by step, toward the priesthood. The journey began with a transformative experience at a Charismatic Retreat in Khandala, a serene hill station on the outskirts of Mumbai. The retreat was led by Frs. Rufus Pereira and James D’Souza. During one of my personal prayer moments, I stepped outside to connect with nature—breathing in the fresh air and listening to the melodious chirping of birds. With my Bible in hand, I prayed using Psalm 104, where the psalmist praises God for the splendor of His creation: "How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." (Psalm 104:24) As I read, the psalmist’s words became my own. I felt an overwhelming sense of God’s love and presence. It was as if the words of Scripture came alive, speaking directly to my heart. This profound encounter with God in the midst of His creation has stayed with me ever since. Alongside this, I developed a deep love for the Eucharist. During Mass, I felt a tangible connection with God. By the end of the retreat, my relationship with the Lord had transformed—it was now real, personal, and alive.After this experience, I became more intentional about my spiritual life. Attending Mass and fulfilling my spiritual duties were no longer obligations but desires. I joined the parish Charismatic Prayer Group and became an active member of the church. Yet, even with this deepened faith, the idea of joining the seminary did not occur to me. Khandala Retreat Centre Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain Hearing God’s Call in Bahrain In 1991, an unexpected opportunity came my way: a job with a food supply company in Manama, Bahrain. My main concern was whether I could attend Mass, at least on Sundays, in a predominantly Muslim country. To my delight, Bahrain allowed Christians to practice their faith, and I soon became a regular at Sacred Heart Church in Manama—not just on Sundays but daily. Immersing myself in church activities, I joined the Charismatic Prayer Group, the Legion of Mary, and served as an usher at Masses.It was in this multicultural parish that I truly experienced the universality of the Church, where people from diverse nationalities and cultures came together to worship the same God. One day, during Mass, I felt a profound call to the priesthood. Immediately after Mass, I approached an elderly religious priest to share my experience. Much to my surprise, he gently curbed my enthusiasm and encouraged me to take my time for thoughtful discernment. Challenges: Struggles in discerning the call Returning to India in 1994, I became absorbed in work and set aside thoughts of a vocation. Then one day, an elderly couple visited me, and during our conversation, the topic of vocations arose. The woman recounted two cautionary stories: one of a man destined for priesthood who chose marriage and was unhappy, and another of a man called to married life who entered the seminary but found no peace. Her words struck a chord. I humbly shared my experience of God’s call in Bahrain, and she encouraged me to meet the seminary rector. Overcoming Family Challenges The rector Fr. Caesar D'Mello and seminary professors guided me through a process of discernment, ultimately confirming the authenticity of my call. When I informed my family, my father initially struggled with the idea. Being the youngest of four brothers and one sister, he had hoped I would stay close to him. However, after several heartfelt discussions, he gave me his blessing, and my family rallied around my decision. St. Pius X Seminary, Goregaon, Mumbai The Decision: Steps to join the seminary In 1996, at the age of 30, I entered St. Pius X Major Seminary. After eight years of formation, I was ordained a priest on April 17, 2004, by the late Ivan Cardinal Dias. Looking back, I can see how God orchestrated every step. He gave me a personal experience of His love, nurtured my devotion to the Eucharist, and prepared my heart to embrace the priesthood. Life as a priest and gratitude to God Now, after 20 years as a priest, I can confidently say that I made the right decision. Serving God and His people has given my life meaning and fulfillment. I am deeply grateful for the grace to respond to His call, despite the challenges along the way. My prayer is that other young men may also find the The Ordination of Fr. Vincent Barboza to say "yes" to God’s call and discover the joy it brings. To God be the glory! Fr. Vincent Barboza A Blessed Day: My Ordination to Priesthood Share Your Story If you are inspired by Fr. Vincent's vocation story, feel free to share your own story with us In this Jubilee Year let us share God's love and mercy by sharing our faith and vocation stories Email to us your story at: jy2025withvincent@gmail.com If you’re discerning your vocation, please contact us or to your parish priest for guidance or prayer. comments debug टिप्पणियां एक टिप्पणी लिखें एक टिप्पणी लिखें Share Your Thoughts Be the first to write a comment.

Marriage In Catholicism marriage is a sacrament that a baptized man and a baptized woman administer to each other through their marriage vows and lifelong partnership. Given that to a Catholic sacramental marriage reflects the union of Christ with the church as his mystical body, marriage is understood to be an indissoluble union. The rite commonly takes place during a mass, with a priest serving as the minister of the mass and as a witness to the mutual consent of the couple. The marriage union is used to sanctify both the husband and wife by drawing them into a deeper understanding of God’s love and is intended to be fruitful, with any children to be raised within the teachings of the church. How to Prepare for Marriage? What are the Documents (Marriage Dossier) needed before marriage How to get attestation of a Church issued Marriage Certificate by a Christian Civil Registrar of marriages (Government of Maharashtra, India) Why Church-Issued Marriage Certificates Need Registrar Attestation?

How to Prepare for Marriage Marriage is an important and joyful occasion in the life of the couple. The preparation for “the” day must begin well in advance to avoid last moment stress for the couple and for the priest. Those intending to get married should go through the following requirements of the Church: 1. Contact the priest or Church office as early as possible to fill out the marriage papers and book the Wedding Mass. In larger churches, it is important to act early to secure your preferred date for the Wedding Mass. 2. Attend a Marriage Preparation Course organized by the diocese at least six months before the wedding. For course details, contact Snehalaya Family Service Centre, Mumbai, India Email:snehalayafamily@gmail.com Website:https://www.snehalayafamily.com

Funerals Like most religious funerals, a Christian funeral service is tailored to the person who has died. The service is usually carried out at a church, crematorium or cemetery and will include prayers, a sermon, readings, hymns and sometimes music or poems (see our guide to popular funeral songs and famous funeral poems ). Additionally, a friend or family member may choose to deliver a eulogy as a tribute to the deceased. Catholic beliefs about death Catholics believe in the afterlife and that actions throughout their life will determine whether their soul goes to heaven, hell, or purgatory. Purgatory is for people who have committed forgivable sins in their lifetime; souls which have been repented can’t go directly to heaven, instead they must serve their time in a place or state of suffering (purgatory) before going to heaven. Purgatory is an official doctrine of the Catholic church and one of the main differences to the Protestant faith – another strand of Christianity.

ACTIVITIES ग्रीष्म शिविर मैं एक पैराग्राफ हूँ। अपना खुद का टेक्स्ट जोड़ने और मुझे संपादित करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें। आपके लिए कहानी सुनाने और अपने उपयोगकर्ताओं को आपके बारे में कुछ और बताने के लिए मैं एक बेहतरीन जगह हूं। रजिस्टर करें Apologetics about us I’m a paragraph. Double click here or click Edit Text to add some text of your own or to change the font. Tell your visitors a bit about your services. LEARN MORE Evangelisation टीन रिट्रीट मैं एक पैराग्राफ हूँ। अपना खुद का टेक्स्ट जोड़ने और मुझे संपादित करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें। आपके लिए कहानी सुनाने और अपने उपयोगकर्ताओं को आपके बारे में कुछ और बताने के लिए मैं एक बेहतरीन जगह हूं। Pastoral Ministry फैमिली रिट्रीट मैं एक पैराग्राफ हूँ। अपना खुद का टेक्स्ट जोड़ने और मुझे संपादित करने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें। आपके लिए कहानी सुनाने और अपने उपयोगकर्ताओं को आपके बारे में कुछ और बताने के लिए मैं एक बेहतरीन जगह हूं। Session in Memory Technique

About Us Finding Inspiration in Every Turn This is your About Page. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what you do and what your website has to offer. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. Our Story Every website has a story, and your visitors want to hear yours. This space is a great opportunity to give a full background on who you are, what your team does, and what your site has to offer. Double click on the text box to start editing your content and make sure to add all the relevant details you want site visitors to know. If you’re a business, talk about how you started and share your professional journey. Explain your core values, your commitment to customers, and how you stand out from the crowd. Add a photo, gallery, or video for even more engagement. Meet The Team Don Francis Founder & CEO Ashley Jones Tech Lead Tess Brown Office Manager Lisa Rose Product Manager Kevin Nye HR Lead Alex Young Customer Support Lead Our Clients

What is Catholic Apologetics? Catholics Apologetics is a branch of Theology. The word Äpologetics comes from an ancient Greek word apologia , meaning to make a reasoned defence or justification of something. Apologetics means giving a reasoned explanation for the Faith. Apologetics is all about knowing why we believe what we believe. In the New Testament, the word apologia is found in many places such as Act 22:1, 1 Peter 3:15 etc. In Acts 22:1 St. Paul uses this term “apologia” to defend his new faith in Jesus Christ. In the early Church during persecution time Christians were challenged to explain their faith to pagans. This gave rise to the first group of Christian intellectuals who took on the task of explaining the faith to the pagans in a scholarly fashion and they were called the Greek Apologists. Among them was St. Justin the Martyr, the first Apologist. They were the first to explain the Christian doctrine rationally and in an intellectually satisfying guise. Yet they may be considered the founders of the science of Christian theology. The Apologetics in the Catholic Church down the centuries has taken a back seat. But this time more than any other time when we are bombarded by so much misinformation, this course in Apologetics is like God sent. In this course you learn why and what about the Catholic Faith using Scripture, the teaching of the Early Church Fathers, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and common sense.