Bethsaida
An Awareness Spiritual Programe For Lay Faithful
The Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate organised a one-day programme entitled Bethsaida on 1st May 2023, at St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa. The programme Bethsaida was an awareness programme on the role of the laity in addressing family and socio-political issues. The programme was attended by about 100 participants which included three participants (1 priest and 2 lay persons) from Sawantwadi, Sindhudhrg Diocese and two youth from Nagpur. The programme was compered by Miss. Myra Veira, and also we had the charismatic team of Mr Godfrey and Mr. Clinton on keyboard continuously praising and worshiping God, helping the participants to remain rooted in the Lord Jesus.
The programme began with a half-hour Eucharistic Adoration with a reflection on Mark 8:22-26 and a small role play on Bethsaida was organsied by DCLA team members. Mr.Luis Coutinho welcomed the gathering. The first session was by Rev. Fr. Felix Dsouza of the Archdiocese of Bombay on the topic ’Lay Vocation and Professional Involvement’. At the outset Fr. Felix reflected on one person in each chapter the Gospel of John and the basic values and responsibilities the laity can learn from them.
The second speaker was Alison Rosario, Secretary of the Synod Coordinating Committee, Archdiocese of Bombay. She spoke on the topic: Social Perspectives in a Post-COVID World. She narrated in detail the fallout/impact of COVID on society with special mention of the economic and social disruption, job losses, border closures, trade restrictions it caused as well as the impact on education and the resulting surge in the use of technology and electronic devices like mobiles and laptops to continue school and work activities.
After lunch, the third speaker was Adrian Rosario, CCBI Laity Commission Resource Person from Mumbai. His topic was ‘The Political Scenario – Its Impact on the Catholic Church.” At the outset, he reminded the laity that it is their duty to aid the church in need and they should get involved and help their priests. He presented some cases in our country where catholic institutions were targeted and where priests and religious were falsely accused on grounds of religious conversions, sexual abuse or financial matters and cases are filed against them.
The participants accepted that they should make efforts to make themselves aware of such situations. They also felt the need for social action cells in the parishes.
Fr. Jorge Fernandes, the Director of DCLA addressed the gathering and urged the participants to come up with an action plan in order to bring the three sessions into reality for the lay Faithful:
▶Formation, awareness and education for our laity in the church and in somudai
▶Visiting and listening to people’s problems and challenges (children, youth, senior citizens)
▶To Establish Parish Library for Reading (youngsters and senior citizens)
▶Building Hobbies and furnish future career for children in parish (Talents camp, summer camps, educative camps)
▶Holistic events for youth- not only Sports and Cultural but more of Educative.
▶Awareness of Family issues in the Parish, Somudai etc.
▶ Organise Seminars or instructions for Families before sacrament of marriage ( parents of the boy and girl)
▶Active Participation in Gram Sabha meetings and voicing out the basic needs and requesting for the information of schemes
▶Awareness of political leaders- their information before elections (Case study of a person contesting for elections.
The programme concluded with the celebration of a Thanksgiving Mass. Certificates were also awarded to 16 lay persons who completed the Lay Leadership Formation Course conducted by DCLA in February – March 2023. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Mifa Fernandes, she thanked the his eminence Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao for His Spiritual support, Fr. Henry, DCLA Director, Team and Staff speakers and all the Participants.
By Miss. Myra Viera and DCLA team