Venue: St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa
Date: January 13–15, 2026
Facilitator: Rev. Fr. Joe Xavier, SJ
Day 1: Tuesday, 13th January – Spiritual Orientation
The gathering commenced with the arrival of 73 participants, comprising Clergy and Religious and Lay Faithful, at the St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa. The atmosphere was one of quiet anticipation and preparation as participants settled into the residence for the Reflection and Discernment Programme in view of New Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
The formal programme began in the evening with a warm and heartfelt welcome extended by Fr. Henry Falcão Director of SJVSRC, who expressed joy in seeing the participants in a place where there was a miracle of the Cross and a place were St.Joseph Vaz had lived . The session on logistics was guided by Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes, offering clarity and direction for the days ahead. This was followed by a profound reflection and a deeply moving time of Reflection led by Fr. Henry, who emphasized that synodality is not merely a concept to be discussed but a way of life to be continually lived and experienced. The time in Adoration led by Fr. Onasis D’Cruz created a sacred space of silence, inviting participants to become attentive to God’s voice whether heard consciously or encountered gently through the unfolding discernment process.
After dinner, the day concluded peacefully with the rosary and night prayer led by Fr. Reagan Fernandes, Sister Godwina and team, drawing the first day to a calm and prayerful close.
Day 2: Wednesday, 14th January – Vision and Framework
The second day began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with integrated Lauds, presided over by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão and concelebrated by Fr. Mariano D’Costa and Fr. Diogo D’Souza sfx. The liturgy set a prayerful tone for the day, grounding the participants in thanksgiving and attentive listening to the Spirit.
After breakfast, the participants assembled in the hall, where Fr. Joe Xavier SJ was formally introduced and warmly welcomed. As a gesture of appreciation and fraternity, a shawl was ceremonially draped on Fr. Joe by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, and a memento of St. Francis was presented to him by the Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes. This symbolic welcome expressed the collective gratitude and openness of the participants to his guidance and accompaniment during the discernment process.
His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão then delivered the keynote address, underscoring that the Diocesan Pastoral Plan (DPP) should not be viewed merely as an administrative or strategic document, but as a continuation of God’s salvific plan unfolding in the life of the diocese. Drawing from the Gospel narrative of Jesus’ journey with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, His Eminence highlighted how God walks with us, entering into our lived realities our joys, struggles, hopes, and uncertainties.
The day unfolded through four structured working sessions facilitated by Fr. Joe Xavier.
The first session focused on Planning and Framework, offering an overview of the vision and structure required for a meaningful pastoral plan.
The second session addressed Goals, Objectives, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), encouraging clarity, accountability, and measurable pastoral outcomes.
The third session explored Discernment in common and conversation in the Spirit, emphasizing the need to move beyond mere institutional maintenance toward being truly led by the Holy Spirit. Discernment was presented as a reorientation of our personal and collective “maps” toward God, requiring inner freedom, personal detachment, and a willingness to take responsibility for owning and living the goals of the Pastoral Plan.
The fourth session was dedicated to Group work, where participants engaged collaboratively, reflecting on various pastoral and ministerial areas following conversation in the Spirit method.
Throughout the sessions, participants were invited to see themselves not as “fixers of loose nuts and bolts,” but as pioneers called to dream boldly for the diocese, setting aside preconceived agendas and prioritizing authentic relationships. Moments of silence, personal contemplation, and reflection were interwoven to deepen the discernment process.
In the evening, following Fr. Joe’s guidance, participants continued group reflections on assigned areas of ministry, each area being taken up by two groups. The day concluded with half an hour of Eucharistic adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, prayerfully led by Fr. Gabriel Fernandes ofm Cap and Sr. Daisy K. JMJ, bringing the day to a reverent and grace-filled close.
Day 3: Thursday, 15th January – Synthesis and Implementation
The third day began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with integrated Lauds, presided over by Fr. Tomas Lobo and concelebrated by EV Fr. Lucio Dias and Fr. Leo Fernandes which was animated by Fr. Blaise Lobo and his team. This prayerful beginning helped participants place the fruits of their discernment before the Lord as they prepared to move toward concrete outcomes.
The focus of the final day was on synthesizing the discerned insights and translating them into practical and implementable plans. Session 5 centered on Reporting and the Activity PlanMatrix. Secretaries from each group presented their respective reports, clearly articulating the goals, objectives, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the points discussed during group work. These presentations enabled the sharing of collective insights and fostered a common understanding among all participants.
Session 6 addressed the Structure of the Pastoral Document. Building on the group presentations, Fr. Joe offered guidance and feedback, encouraging clarity, coherence, and simplicity in language so that the pastoral plan would be accessible and meaningful at all levels of the diocese. Further discussions focused on aligning the content within a realistic framework and preparing it for drafting and refinement.
The concluding session marked the transition from the discernment process at the renewal centre to the active mission of a synodal Church. Fr. Leo proposed the vote of thanks, expressing heartfelt appreciation to everyone for their active participation and spirit of collaboration throughout the live-in programme.
The gathering formally concluded with a sense of gratitude and shared commitment, followed by closing words by His Eminence the Cardinal and imparting final blessings. The participants then came together for lunch at 1:30 p.m., bringing the three-day spiritual and pastoral journey to a warm and fraternal close.
