GOA MISSION CONGRESS ENDS WITH
THE CALL TO GO FORTH AND BEAR FRUIT

Curtains were drawn on the Goa Mission Congress on February 8th, with a message to the faithful in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman to make the love reign in the families and in the neighbourhood and the Small Christian Communities by paying special attention to the formation of the youth. The message has also appealed the families and the SCCs need to create an atmosphere wherein the Christian values could be witnessed in the political-financial-cultural and social fabric of the society, if not through the word of mouth but through the way of life. It has also called upon the faithful that the forthcoming third death centenary of Bl. Joseph Vaz be an occasion to intensify our prayers that the ministry of the Church in the far of and poor regions of Goa may bear fruit.

This Message was delivered at the concluding Mass, presided over by the Archbishop-Patriarch. M. Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, and concelebrated by the Archbishop-Patriarch Emeritus, M. Rev. Raul Nicolau Gonsalves and about 50 priests. In his homily delivered on this occasion, Archbishop Filipe Neri spoke of the infinite love God showed by sending his Son, who accomplished this mission in various ways, not only by pressing the Word but also through his life of intense service. Speaking about the attitude of Jesus, he said: "We see two basic perspectives in Jesus’ life: His intimacy of love with the with the Father and His self gift of love to others. It is for this, to continue His life-ministry of love that He chooses His disciples / He chooses us as he says ‘come and see and go and proclaim.’"

The participation of the faithful from the mission of Daman added a dimension of variety of culture to the Mass as the celebrants were welcomed with a dance typical of the region to the sound of singing and playing of musical instruments; to be noted is that a reading of the Scripture was made in Marathi as well as the thanksgiving song.

Earlier in the day some of the delegates spoke on how they were blessed through this Good News. The talents and occupations they held provided an opportunity to exercise the Christian values. Lira D’Melo, a clerk in a bank spoke of the patience she had to exercise while dealing with the clients of the extra work she had to put outside the duty hours and the need to put up for her colleagues on the dereliction of their duties for some reason of the other. Suresh Dhude, from Nagar Havelli baptised when 13 years old rejoiced for having been able to take up for Missionaries who were blamed wrongly for having indulged in conversions he witnessed telling them that the missionaries taught them about religion but they did not force it on them and that he had made a choice for Christ. Mario Meneses a noted play writer and director affirmed that he uses his talents and the stage to spread the message of Jesus as well as depict the social issues in the context of the social teachings of the church. He expressed his joy when a person said to have changed his attitudes after watching one of his drama. Loretti Pinto, an artist said she uses her art of painting on issues which demand a response like concern for discrimination against street children, awareness for the environment.

Every day the sharing were followed by Theologico-Pastoral syntheses done by James Kurien, Sr. Bromadine and Edith Mello Furtado. These syntheses situated the sharings in all the three days in the context of the Word of God and the teachings of the Church. In one such synthesis it was said that "As Indian Christian living in a Country were we are a tiny Minority, a mere 2%, and in Goa, just 30%, we have a major role to play. The harvest is literally plentiful and we are just a few." Later it was added that "As we are gathered today, to reflect on faith sharing, I look at our selves as a whole Church, a people of God, but mainly as the Lay faithful, who live in the world of business, professions, Media, art, politics and to a great extent a secularized society."

The participants parted after they made a pledge to spread the Good News of Jesus and received a personal cross and a cross to be presented to the parish from where they came.