Food

Green Prawn Curry With Vegetables

Ingredients required for prawn marination
250g medium prawns (washed & deveined)
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
Salt to taste

Ingredients required for green masala paste
1/2 cup fresh coconut
1/3 cup fresh coriander
3-4 green chillies
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
2 garlic cloves
6 pepper corns
Tamarind (small lime size, soaked in hot water)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
Small onion (roughly chopped)

Other ingredients required
1 medium onion (finely chopped)
2 green chillies (slit)
1 small tomato (finely chopped)
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup fresh thick coconut milk
1 tsp sugar
Salt to taste
Oil as required

Ingredients required to extract thick coconut milk
1 cup fresh coconut
3/4 cup warm water
1 green chilly

Method

Season prawns with salt, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder. Mix this well. Set aside for ten minutes.Take half cup fresh coconut and 1/3 cup fresh coriander along with 3-4 green chillies, one tbsp coriander and 1/2 tsp cumin, 2 garlic cloves, 6 pepper corns, tamarind soaked in a little hot water, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and a small onion roughly chopped. Add water as required to grind and grind to a thick paste. Set aside

Now take one grated coconut and put it in a mixer with one green chilly. Add 3/4 cup of water and grind to a thick paste . Place this in a strainer and squeeze out the juice. You can also do this in a muslin cloth. Set the juice aside

In a pan add oil and heat it . Add the the prawns and lightly fry it. Keep this aside. Now add one medium onion and fry and then add two slit green chillies. As one small chipped tomato and cook till the tomato is soft. Add the green ground paste and fry for 4 minutes. Add a bit of water when frying along with salt to taste and let this cook for five minutes. Now add the vegetables and cook for a while. Add the fried prawns and the thick coconut milk. Add some sugar if needed and bring to a simmer. Your curry is done

Spread the love ♥
  5    
5
Shares
Continue Reading
Faith

Feast of St John the Evangelist – John 20:2-8

Today is the third day in the octave of Christmas. The Church celebrates the Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist. St. John the Apostle, the son of Zebedee and Salome [Matthew 4:21, 27:56; Mark 15:40, 16:1], was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. The mention of the “hired men” [Mark 1:20], and of Saint John’s “home” [John 19:27], implies that the condition of Salome and her children was not one of great poverty.

Born in Bethsaida, he was called while mending his nets to follow Jesus. John was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His public ministry. He is considered the same person as John the Evangelist, John of Patmos and the Beloved Disciple. John’s older brother was St. James the Great, another one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles. Jesus referred to the brothers as “Boanerges,” meaning “sons of thunder.” John is believed to be the longest living apostle and the only not to die a martyr’s death.

John, along with Peter and James, were the only witnesses of the raising of Daughter of Jairus, and the closest witnesses to the Agony in Gethsemane. John was the one who reported to Jesus they had “‘forbidden’ a non-disciple from casting out demons in Jesus’ name.” This prompted Jesus to state, “he who is not against us is on our side.”

John and Peter were the only two apostles sent by Jesus to make preparations for the final Passover meal, the Last Supper. During the meal, St. John sat next to Jesus, leaning on him rather than lying along the couches. John was the only one of the Twelve Apostles who did not forsake the Saviour in the hour of His Passion. He stood faithfully at the cross when the Saviour made him the guardian of His Mother.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Faith

To a girl named Mary, an angel came – Monday 4th week in Advent – Luke 1:26-38

For four hundred years, the voice of the prophets had been silent in Israel. Fifteen hundred years of communication from God to man through the scriptures seemed to have ended with the book of Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament. Now, that silence is shattered for ever, in an obscure village in Galilee. Mary, the young girl of no status, from the village of Nazareth, an utterly insignificant place is singled out, called, chosen, and overshadowed with God’s Spirit. Her response moves from one of fear to total trust in God’s inscrutable designs.

The text of today has several meditations

The angel said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.” This assurance of the present-ness of God sets the tone for the message that is to come. Mary is identified here as the “favoured one” (Luke 1:28) and as one who has “found favour with God” (Luke 1:30). Later, in the verses that follow this text, she will be described as “blessed” among women (Luke 1:42). It is no small thing to be regarded, to be favoured, especially when you are exceedingly aware that you should not be.

But understand this that she is favoured not God’s favourite! She is not blessed or favoured because she is going to be the physical mother of Jesus, but because she believed God’s word. So, whatever blessings are given to Mary is one we all can share, if we emulate her. We cannot all be physical parents of Jesus, but we can believe God’s word will be fulfilled. Our Lady’s role in the history of salvation is unique. The same is true for each one of us in a smaller scale. The Lord is with each of us and we have found favour with God and he has a mission for us to fulfil.

It is doubtful that Mary really understood the implications of what she had been told. But she recognised the messenger as coming from God and, in deep faith and trust, accepted what she was being asked to do and be. Mary’s life circumstances would reasonably cause her to question—Am I favoured? Is God with me? What will this favour entail? The angel said to Mary, ‘You will conceive and bear a son,’ not ‘Are you willing to conceive and bear a son?’ She did not say “ok, I will do it”, but “let it be with me according to your word.” It was ‘yes’ to a way of life, a ‘yes’ to the Word of God, leaving the initiative with God. Her words to the angel, are a direct parallel to what Jesus later prays in the garden, “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).

That is how God’s will comes to us; in the things that happen to us; more than in the things we choose! In our lives too, there are turning points where we may experience an invitation to embrace something difficult rather than discard it. Something which may wreck our dream for ourselves or for our loved ones. There’s a need to discern what God wants from me.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Faith

Why us, why now… why? 4th Sunday in Advent – Luke 1:39-45

This Sunday two women dominate the Gospel; they own every line and sentence and become for us models of faith. On the surface they seem to be ‘lowly’ and perhaps even women who carry a shame. Mary was with child before she was engaged to Joseph and Elizabeth was barren; a first century Jewish shame that made society look down on you. Yet it is these two women who are blessed because they lived their faith.

Mary, we are told, sets out ‘in haste’ to meet Elizabeth, her cousin. Mary was fully conscious of her new status; she was the mother of God. Yet she does not pull rank but places herself at service. Remember she left in haste, not to declare proudly her new position but to be of service to her cousin, now advanced in age and well advanced in her pregnancy. She goes to ‘greet’ her cousin. Mary celebrates the joy of her relatives; there are no pangs of jealousy just zeal to share in the joy of others.

The scriptures record very little of Elizabeth. However, she too like Mary is a great woman of faith. Unlike her husband Zechariah, who heard the message of the angel and doubted, Elizabeth had no doubts. Unlike Mary who was a young woman, Elizabeth was well advanced in age. The Gospel tells us that on hearing the greeting of Mary the babe in Elizabeth’s womb lept. It is later in verse 44 that Elizabeth confesses that this was not just an ordinary baby kick but that this leaping was joyful.

Interestingly, up to this moment Elizabeth has no clue why Mary has come to visit her. Then in verse 41b we are told that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now the wisdom of God is revealed to her. She now proclaims what no one else knew and what not even Mary has revealed to her. The power of the Holy Spirit is revealed all through the infancy narratives. Mary conceives by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit fills Elizabeth to reveal what no one knows and Simeon is directed by the Holy spirit to seek Jesus in the temple. Which prompts me to ask, are we in tune with the Holy Spirit?

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading
Opinion

My dear Parishioners,

Each year I like to put a theme to the Christmas season. This year’s theme for us, here at St Stephen Church, Cumballa Hill is, ‘the weary world rejoices.’ It’s been almost two long years that the pandemic has altered much of our lives leaving us rather weary. The recent strain of the Covi-19 virus has left us holding our breath once again with the fear of being chained to the railings. Yet as we approach Christmas Day this year, we sense a joy; Christmas is a time for the weary world to rejoice.

As your parish priest, I want to wish you joy and peace. Peace, as we know, is not the absence of strife or conflict but the ability to endure the storm even in the midst of it; our hearts and minds focused on the Lord. That may sound like wishful thinking but it is the deepest expression of what true faith is all about. These last two years have been a test of endurance for many people. From businesses to relationship, the strain has been quite evident on all walks of life. Yet in all of this we have heard and seen acts of love and kindness and that lifts up our spirits.

As a parish we have done well and I will elaborate on this topic especially on the 26th of December 2021, the day of the feast of our patron. St Stephen. While the Church building has certainly been wearing a new look, it is the spiritual life of the parish that I am most concerned about. I want to encourage you this Christmas not just to come to Christmas mass but to come back each day and every Sunday for mass. For the Church, as for me, the sacrament of reconciliation is paramount in the healing of our relationship with Christ. Denying satan’s wily ways or wishing that satan will not and does not tempt us is like asking the fox to spare the chickens.

The solemnity of the birth of Jesus is God’s gift to us; a gift of a saviour. This tiny babe is born to die for us. This we should not forget as we bend low at the crib on Christmas day. I hope that you do not just admire the nativity scene at the manger but spend time in prayer. The crib is a reminder of God’s love for us in the form of the greatest gift; Jesus who has come to save us.

The mass on Christmas eve will begin at eight pm. You are requested to be in your seat by 7.45 pm latest. We want to discourage movement while the word of God is read, so if you do come late, please wait at the door till the word of God is read and then permit the ushers to direct you to a place. Please note, the directions of the ushers given to you are not suggestions. Given the covid protocols we are unable to accommodate your personal seating preferences and also have to keep in mind government regulations. The mass on Christmas day will be at seven am, eight thirty am and ten am. There is no evening mass even though the next day is a Sunday.

I wish to remind you of the dress code that has been mandated by the Archdiocese of Bombay for all liturgical functions. Needless to say, modesty of dress must be adhered to. The ushers will offer you a shawl if you do not meet basic standards of modesty of dress. We have informed you of the same in the parish notices earlier this month.

Spread the love ♥
       
Continue Reading