PILAR, India (UCAN) -- Participants at Goa and Daman archdiocese's mission congress have resolved to bear witness to their faith through personal examples of love and service. ia_panaji.gif"We are energized to spread the love of God in families, neighbors," said a statement from the Feb. 6-8 congress that focused on family, youth and spreading Christian values. About 400 people took part in the gathering in Pilar, a village near the Goa state capital of Panaji.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman read out the congress statement at the concluding Mass, which his predecessor, retired Archbishop Raul Nicolau Gonsalves, and 50 priests concelebrated.
The statement urged Catholics to spread love in families, neighborhoods and Small Christian Communities, and to foster Christian values in the political, social and cultural spheres through personal example.
Participants promised to spread love and serve others in society, especially in their workplaces. Catholics' example would prompt others to become apostles of love and spread the same love to others, the statement added.
It urges all Catholics to work with others to bring peace and reconciliation, especially where animosity exists. "By creating this atmosphere, let us try to form small human communities where we can contribute to bring peace in the country," the statement added.
The congress asked Catholics in Goa to prepare for the third death centenary of Blessed Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), a Goan missioner who worked in Sri Lanka when the colonial Dutch government tried to suppress the Catholic faith, after ousting the Portuguese.
The statement also urges Catholics to pray for the success of the Church's mission in remote and poor regions of the archdiocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Ferrao reminded the gathering that Christ accomplished his mission of love through intense service.
Father Saturnino Dias, the congress convener, told UCA News the Church has a mediating role and the congress was an occasion to reaffirm Goa's special role in God's saving plan even today. India's smallest state, a Portuguese colony from 1510 until 1961, served as a springboard for missionary activities in Asia.
Representatives from 161 parishes in Goa state and 59 in two geographically separate territories under federal administration -- Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli -- attended the congress.
Before departing, participants pledged to spread the congress message in their locales. Every parish received a small cross and a missionary mandate. Every delegate also received a personal cross.
Father Dias explained that the crosses signify a duty to spread God's love.
Source: UCA NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman read out the congress statement at the concluding Mass, which his predecessor, retired Archbishop Raul Nicolau Gonsalves, and 50 priests concelebrated.
The statement urged Catholics to spread love in families, neighborhoods and Small Christian Communities, and to foster Christian values in the political, social and cultural spheres through personal example.
Participants promised to spread love and serve others in society, especially in their workplaces. Catholics' example would prompt others to become apostles of love and spread the same love to others, the statement added.
It urges all Catholics to work with others to bring peace and reconciliation, especially where animosity exists. "By creating this atmosphere, let us try to form small human communities where we can contribute to bring peace in the country," the statement added.
The congress asked Catholics in Goa to prepare for the third death centenary of Blessed Joseph Vaz (1651-1711), a Goan missioner who worked in Sri Lanka when the colonial Dutch government tried to suppress the Catholic faith, after ousting the Portuguese.The statement also urges Catholics to pray for the success of the Church's mission in remote and poor regions of the archdiocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Ferrao reminded the gathering that Christ accomplished his mission of love through intense service.
Father Saturnino Dias, the congress convener, told UCA News the Church has a mediating role and the congress was an occasion to reaffirm Goa's special role in God's saving plan even today. India's smallest state, a Portuguese colony from 1510 until 1961, served as a springboard for missionary activities in Asia.
Representatives from 161 parishes in Goa state and 59 in two geographically separate territories under federal administration -- Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli -- attended the congress.
Before departing, participants pledged to spread the congress message in their locales. Every parish received a small cross and a missionary mandate. Every delegate also received a personal cross.
Father Dias explained that the crosses signify a duty to spread God's love.
Source: UCA NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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