Dearly Beloved in Christ,

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

A hearty welcome to St. Sebastian’s Forane Church Website!

I thank our Lord Jesus and all the members of our community and all the faithful at large.

In the digital age, as we are all in, no one can close their eyes and resist the blitz of change. The Internet has already caught hold of us whether we accept it or not. We are in the midst of a digital network. As His excellency, Pope Francis said, “Internet is a gift from God”. God reveals Himself in inconceivable ways. “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” (Romans 11:34).

People of all nations have always been finding happiness through community life, although the get-togethers were made of close circles either of families or relatives. People come together and celebrate their communion through sublime cultural activities and feasts. Gone are the days when time was plentiful, and people had enough space to meet for days together leisurely. Today time and space have become rare commodities and people find it difficult to manage them. The communion of loved ones in time and space is becoming a luxury.

In this context, the internet has become a real gift from God for man. Websites are valuable mediums, apart from giving information, they add value and loyalty and offer a unique proposition. As far as a Church website is concerned, its unique proposition is the nature of faith and identity of the church, the religious and humanitarian nature of the parish community as a single vast joint family.

Christianity grew and spread only because of “the network of networks” throughout history. It can be said that a worldwide network of the faithful started during the Apostolic period. Now the internet is just another dimension of God’s plan for the dissemination of the word of God.

St.Sebastian’s Forane Church’s Website is very informative and visitor friendly. It is explicitly presented with a realistic and personal touch where you will be able to browse through the story of the Church’s beginning which is a splendid narration of how just a humble desire of a handful of believers when submitted to the hands of the Almighty God, the desire evolved into material reality.

The "About Us" section gives a brief introduction to the fascinating community and also mentions all the former Parish Priests, Asst. Parish Priests, former Trustees, Secretaries, and Sacristans. The Church "Administration" tab has Parish Priests and their contact details, Trustees, Committee Members, Allied Council Members, and Pious Associations. The "Forane" tab indicates the Churches and Mission Centers that are under St.Sebastian’s Forane.

There is detailed information on the "Services" including Qurbana/Novena/Adoration with timings, and also details about the Feasts celebrated by the Church.

The "Catechism" tab details the Catechism Administration, Teaching Staff, Additional Staff, PTA Members, Associations such as Altar Boys, Cherupushpa Mission League (CML) and Holy Childhood. This section also showcases a gallery of pictures and videos featuring recent activities of the Catechism Team.

The tab “Mind Ventures” is a digital space for budding poets, creative writers, and artists of our parish who can publish their creations in this space. I appreciate this venture, especially because faith formation is not just learning the teachings of the church and scriptures but also the formation of creative minds. Imagination and sensibility are more important than knowledge. Hope this space helps our younger generation improve their imaginative and creative skills and grow with sensibility and service-mindedness.

The "Religious Life" section displays Ordinations and First Professions of members of the parish devoted to serving God's people. There is also a fantastic "Gallery" for all events, relating to the church as well as Wards. This includes photos and videos of all concluded events in the recent past.

The "Media" tab indicates the church’s publication - Sebastian Times, short films Palleelachan Part 1 & Part 2, mobile applications viz; My Church Malayalam and My Church Manglish, which include common prayers and liturgies in Malayalam and Manglish, and also a mobile application - Voice of SSFC - that comprises more than 500 Catholic Syro-Malabar Qurbana Songs and other Devotional songs in Manglish mainly created for the Choir Team of St.Sebastian’s Forane Church.

The website also features several dynamic tabs that are updated, published, and archived by the team as per the requirement. These tabs display helpful information related to various subjects such as Feast Celebrations, Sacraments of Confirmation and Solemn Holy Communions, yearly vows announced by the Diocese, details of the Parish Cemetery, and more.

I hope users will find this website very friendly - both informative and entertaining, as well as encouraging and enriching the faith and community life. Overall, for those who are far away from native, this website will give an experience of nostalgic homecoming.

On behalf of the parish members, I submit this wonderful website to you all. May God bless you abundantly.

Praised be Lord Jesus Christ!

With Prayers

Rev. Fr. Mathew Mechirackal, CMF
Parish Priest