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Goa: As cases spike, some churches shut, some services go online | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: Even as the Archdiocese of Goa has not issued any communication in light of the sharp spike of Covid cases, many churches across the state have independently decided to get strict. While some have temporarily suspended services for the public, others are restricting numbers.
The shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Don Bosco, Panaji, has announced that its popular Eucharistic adoration on Thursday would move online, with nobody allowed inside the shrine.
It also suspended all evening Masses on weekdays and Sundays, and stated that some Masses would be held with limited participation, and others with no public at all.
“These measures are taken for your own safety and the safety of our students, who will be appearing for their examinations,” the notice stated.
The Pilar fathers, too, have requested people not to visit. “While Covid cases are increasing considerably and as Pilar houses many institutions, including a home for elderly priests, visitors and devotees will not be permitted to the Pilar hillock for any purpose till further notice,” said superior delegate Fr Nazareth Fernandes.
“We request you to bear with us. We shall open as soon as the situation improves. Let us pray for each other that God may protect us all in these times,” he added.
At Carmelite monastery in Margao, the faithful were informed that henceforth, only those who pre-register online or via telephone would be allowed for Sunday Mass. The number of attendees will also be reduced to 70. Confessions have been temporarily stopped, and parents were told that catechism for children would continue online.
On Sunday, several churches sounded their faithful out about the dire situation and that other churches that have already suspended services. Many said they would take a decision in the coming days, on whether to continue services with a congregation.
Priests also cautioned people not to go to Church if they have any symptoms of Covid.
TOI reported on Sunday that the annual feast Mass of Our Lady of Miracles, popularly known as Milagres Saibinn, at St Jerome’s church, Mapusa, has been cancelled. The feast Mass, scheduled to be celebrated on April 19, was cancelled due to the rise in Covid-19 cases, parish priest Fr Dennis Fernandes said.
TOI had earlier reported that the Mae de Deus church in Saligao was among the first to suspend services for the faithful as a precautionary measure, stating that “prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen, it’s preventing things from happening in the first place”.

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Broke Swiggy guy walks 3 km to deliver food, Social media helps him find better job. Heartwarming story is viral

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Social media can be a wondrous place at times. While on most days, its ugly face is on display, on days like today, it sets examples of the power of kindness. In a social media post, a LinkedIn user shared how a delivery executive, in need of money and a better job, bagged one after the users on the platform came together to help the person out.

Priyanshi Chandel, Marketing Manager at tech company Flash, shared an incident about a Swiggy delivery agent who had come to deliver food at her residence. When she asked the late and out-of-breath delivery person, identified by her as Sahil Singh, about what happened, he told her that he had no transport and had to walk 3 km to deliver the order.

He also said that he was out of money and had nothing left to pay his landlord too. Singh told her that he was not looking for money from her but requested her to help him bag a job. He said that he had a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and had worked with Byju’s and Ninjacart before. He had to move back to Jammu during the pandemic.

“I have not eaten for a week, just drinking water and tea to get by. I am not asking for anything, please if you can find me a job, I used to make 25k before, I am 30 years old, my parents are getting old and I can’t keep asking for money from them (sic),” Chandel quoted saying.

She also shared his marksheets and contact number for people to help. His details shared show that he is a 2018 BTech graduate from Mewar University, and completed his schooling from the Jammu and Kashmir state board.

After she shared the details, the comments section was filled with people who stepped up to help. While someone recharged his Yulu account so that he did not have to walk around to deliver food, someone offered a place to stay. Many offered to help him with his applications, while some offered jobs too.

Chandel, later on put an update on the post, and said that he received a job.

However, so far it is unclear what job he has received.

2023 has so far been a year of job losses, an eventual outcome of the pandemic and increased hiring by tech companies. For instance, the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam that took place in Uttar Pradesh in May saw over 55 lakh applications for Group D jobs. Numerous candidates who applied for positions such as peon, watchman, gardener had educational backgrounds like BTech, MBA, and Master’s degrees.

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Goa CM, NRI Commissioner writes to MoEF for help in safe return of Goans from Ukraine

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Panaji: Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to help in safe return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

Sawant tweeted “we are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.”

The chief minister’s tweet comes hours after Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar wrote to the Union External Affairs ministry seeking help in return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

“Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes including higher studies and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return back to India,” Sawaikar wrote.

The Commissioner further wrote in the letter that advisories have already been issued by the Ministery of External Affairs to Indians currently in Ukraine and our Indian Mission in Kyiy is currently handling the matter.

“Striking note of urgency, the Government of India has recently asked the family members of Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as students and citizens whose stay is not vital , to leave the Eastern European nation amid it’s raising tensions with Russia,” the letter reads.

Sawaikar wrote that the Goans in Ukraine are in touch with this office as they are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalizes.

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Election Commission announces polling dates and counting days for Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 states

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On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 States, namely, Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While briefing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed that the elections in the poll-bound States will commence from February 10, 2022, to March 7, 2022. Elections in the State of Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in 7 phases, followed by Manipur with 2 phases. Elections in Goa, Uttarkhand and Punjab will be conducted in a single phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, the votes will be counted on March 10, 2022. ECI informed that all physical campaigning will be ceased until January 15, 2022, in light of the rising cases of Coronavirus.

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