PANJIM: O Heraldo celebrated the 40th Anniversary of its English Edition with Holy Eucharist at Sao Tome Chapel at Sao Tome, Panjim, on Tuesday. The Mass was attended by the members of O Heraldo , Dainik Herald and Herald TV. Fr Jorge Fernandes, Director of Diocesan Centre of Lay Apostolate, Altinho-Panjim, was the celebrant.
In his homily, where he dwelt on the role and responsibility of the media, Fr Fernandes narrated an anecdote where a kind man rescued a child from a dog and had to kill the dog. A reporter came by seemingly to report on the brave and kind act of the man and asked the man if he was from New York. He said he wasn’t. The reporter then asked if he was American and he said no, he was from Iraq. The next day, the headline in his paper read: ‘Terrorist kills innocent dog in New York’.
What Fr Fernandes indicated was clear. It’s the eyes and heart that see the story and make it what it is. Here the American journalist stereotyped the man from Iraq and changed the entire narrative, when he would written a humane story praising him if the man was from New York or an American.
In this case, the takeaway was that the journalist seemed to be a part of the American ‘godi media’.
Fr Fernandes congratulated the management and the members of the
O Heraldo family on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the English Edition. He said that “over the last 40 years O Heraldo had become an angel for many Goans and people cannot begin their day without this newspaper”. Even if people don’t have time they make it a point to flip through the make and their day is made, Fr Fernandes said. He emphasised that every employee of the organisation is important. He also said that news depends on how one reads and judges according to one’s thoughts and background.
Fr Fernandes used the metaphor of the three Archangels to describe
O Heraldo and elucidated why he used this metaphor. “The first Archangel, St Michael, is unique because he is like God. He is the protector of the right, he fought against evil, he fought against Lucifer and stood for God. For me, O Heraldo is like St Michael because it fights everyday against evil, against injustice. People should be able to go to the paper and find the truth. This will make people find the real truth in life,” Fr Fernandes said.
The second Archangel St Raphael is unique because through him God heals, he said. “He accompanied Tobias as a companion through the journey such that Tobias could not do without Raphael. He needed his advice, guidance and protection. I took at O Heraldo as St Raphael who is a companion. When we get up we look at O Heraldo as a companion. We look at O Heraldo as a protector, who guides and inspires us and helps us to heal ourselves. O Heraldo helps us as a companion to know what is happening in the world,” the main Celebrant said.
Referring to the third Archangel, Fr Jorge Fernandes said: “I understand O Heraldo as the third Archangel Gabriel, who is known as the power of God. He took care of Daniel in the fire. Gabriel is associated with bringing the good news to Mary, to Zachariah, to Joseph and the Shepherds (at the birth of Jesus).”
“I look at O Heraldo to be like St Gabriel who every morning when I get up brings the good news. I need to be inspired. Anybody who reads it needs to encounter the truth and needs to encounter the wisdom of the Lord. That is what O Heraldo needs to give us. When O Heraldo becomes like an angel, it can transform the whole society,” Fr Jorge Fernandes said, while wishing all at O Heraldo the best for the future.