The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman will organize the 'Diocesan Mission Congress' in Konkani on the theme 'Devachea Mogacho Somarombh' (Celebration of God's Love) at Pilar from 6 to 8 February. Over 500 people from 161 parishes from all over Goa, including 59 from Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli will be attending the meeting together with Archbishop-Patriarch, M. Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop-Patriarch Emeritus, M. Rev. Raul Nicolau Gonsalves and the Bishop of Sindhudurg, M. Rev. Alwyn Barreto.

"This gathering will be unique in nature. It will be a celebration of faith, thanking God for his special love for each one of us manifested in different ways in each one's life as well as for the community at large," said Fr Saturnino Dias, convenor of the Organising Committee of the Goa Mission Congress.

Instead of being a theological or philosophical exercise, the Congress will witness people from different walks of life all over the archdiocese sharing their unique experiences of God's love in their lives.

"Faith experiences must be abounding in Goa. By deepening of faith and renewed commitment of faith, sharing them publicly, we celebrate the gift of our faith not for the sake of worldly pride but to reflect on our faith," said Fr. Dias.

"Besides, there will be one full session where people from other faiths will share their understanding of Christianity or how they experience Christians living their faith in their day to day lives," Fr Dias added.

He informed that the need to celebrate God's love is intrinsically linked to Goa.

"The story of the love of Jesus the Saviour, which began in the small town of Asia known as Bethlehem, was spread from the Goan soil in an extraordinary way. We will celebrate 500 years of this great event in the year 2010," Fr Dias added.

He informed that St Francis Xavier, fondly known as Goencho Saib (Lord of Goa), was one of those missionaries who spread the Good News of Jesus in Goa.

"Coming from Spain, he made Goa the base of his missionary endeavours and for about ten years he went from place to place in the Asian countries spreading the Good News of the love of God," said Fr Dias.

He also stated that Blessed Joseph Vaz was a Goan missionary who proclaimed the Story of Jesus using the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka and thus brought to the surface the Sri Lankan face of Jesus.

"He helped to revive and grow the dying Catholic Church in Sri Lanka," said Fr Dias.

Fr Dias also sought to clarify on the general impression of 'mission' and 'missionary' activities, involving the Christian community.

"The words 'Mission, Missionary' elicit in the mind of some people the idea of 'conversion' to Christianity from another religion and for this reason many speak against and even persecute the Christian community," said Fr Dias.

"By seeing the love we express towards them, if others experience the love of God and come to know Jesus more intimately and thus change their way of life or even their religion, who can stop them from becoming disciples of Jesus," asked Fr Dias.

Delving on the history of the 'Mission Congress, Fr Dias recalled that Pope John Paul II had called the continental Synods of Bishops to reflect on these issues and after each Synod he wrote an Apostolic Exhortation to the Church of the respective continent.

Responding to that exhortation, the Church in Asia, through the Office of Evangelization of the Federation of the Asian Bishops' Conferences held the first Asian Mission Congress at Chiangmai (Thailand) from October 18 to 22, 2006.

Following an appeal in the First Asian Mission Congress, such Mission Congresses are being organized in the various countries, regions, and dioceses of Asia.

The Indian Mission Congress will be conducted on October 14-18 in Mumbai, while the Regional Mission Congress (which includes Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat) will be organized from April 30 to May 3 at Pilar.

PRESS NOTE