The Holy Childhood Association of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman celebrated the Holy Childhood Day with great joy and enthusiasm on 15th February 2026 at St. Alex Church, Calangute, North Goa.
This year’s celebration was vibrant and energetic, beautifully blending spirituality, teamwork, and bonding among children truly exemplifying the spirit of “Hands of Help, Hearts of Hope,” leaving every child inspired to serve with love, hope, and faith.
The Holy Eucharist was solemnly presided over by Fr. Joseph Fernandes, SFX, In-charge of Vocation Promotion along with the concelebrants Fr. Maverick Fernandes, Director of the Holy Childhood Association; Fr. Savio Fernandes, Executive Secretary of the Council for Social Justice and Peace; Fr. Walter D’Souza, In-charge of St. Francis Xavier Academy, Old Goa and Fr. Mariano Silveira Parish priest of St. Alex Church Calangute.
Reflecting on the theme, “Hands of Help, Hearts of Hope,” Fr. Joseph Fernandes encouraged the children to look forward to becoming future leaders and in-charges of institutions and centres. He inspired them to respond generously to God’s call by considering vocations to the priesthood and religious life, so as to continue the Church’s mission.
The homily was enriched by touching testimonies shared by:
- Genevie Albuquerque from Holy Family Convent, Sancoale
- Sherlyn Pillay from St. Alex Orphanage, Calangute
- Anriza Costa from St. Anthony’s Home, Verna
- Poonam Gaonkar from St. Francis Xavier’s Academy for the Differently Abled, Old Goa
Their heartfelt sharing deeply moved everyone present.
Children from several institutions and parishes participated in the celebration, including:
- St. Alex Orphanage Calangute
- St. Anthony’s Home Verna
- Holy Family Convent Sancoale
- St. Francis Xavier Training Centre for Children with Disabilities Old Goa
- Catechism students from Calangute Parish
- Children from the parishes of Calangute Deanery
The gathering reflected unity and joyful fellowship among the young members of the Archdiocese
The cultural programme began with a warm welcome by Fr. Savio Fernandes. The catechism children of St. Alex Church energized the audience with an action song, followed by a lively comedy skit that brought smiles and laughter to everyone present.
The children were divided into 12 groups, each named after one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, symbolizing the values they are called to live by.
Two exciting group games were organised:
- Konkani Hymn Challenge – A short audio clip of a Konkani hymn was played, and each group had to identify its title.
- Balloon Pyramid Game – Teams worked together to build a pyramid using balloons, encouraging teamwork and coordination.
Spot Prizes included,
· Any child who can tell the most number of names of their group members
· From which book was todays Gospel
· If any child could tell all of the 5 mysteries (i.e. any one Joyful/sorrowful/ glorious/luminous)
· Any child who could name all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
· And other exciting prizes for girls and boys
Spot prizes further boosted the children’s enthusiasm, making the atmosphere even more lively and joyful. The day was filled with laughter, friendship, and unforgettable memories.
The programme was skilfully anchored by Fr. Savio Fernandes, who kept the proceedings engaging and well-coordinated throughout and later proposed the vote of thanks to all who contributed to making the celebration meaningful and successful. Earlier, Fr. Maverick Fernandes had warmly welcomed the children from the different institutions and the different churches from the Calangute deanery for the celebrations.
