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Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao Inaugurated today,31st May, the new Pastoral year 2020-2021, for the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, after celebrating the feast of Holy Spirit, at the Archbishops house, Panaji Goa, at 9.15am.
While Inaugurating the Pastoral year Archbishop released the new pastoral letter, pastoral diary and pastoral planner, with the theme of the Year, titled, “You are my witness” (Tumi Mhoje Govai). Speaking on the theme Archbishop urged the Faithful to grow in deep experience of God, strengthen their faith and be courageous witnesses of their faith in day to day life by being ambassadors of God’s Love and mercy in a world that is in dire need of these divine gifts.
The Pastoral year is a religious year marked in the Archdiocese, during which a series of initiatives are taken at the diocesan and parish level for the faith formation and also may include guidelines for Holistic formation of the Christians. Even though it is aimed at Christians of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman the good initiatives often benefit people from different walks of life, as we know that in Christianity we believe that Love of neighbour is but a real expression of your Love for God. Especially during this time of Pandemic the Catholic Church in Goa was instrumental in reaching out to many needy people, irrespective of their caste, creed and religion.
The logo of the pastoral theme depicts that we need to have a deep encounter/experience with God and then go out to share that experience with others. The Cross represents the encounter with God and Humankind in Jesus Christ. The heart represents the depth of Love of God manifested through the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord. The Rays symbolize the transforming impact of the Holy Spirit. The footsteps in motion represent going forth as a witness and stationary footsteps indicate being witness wherever one is.
Fr. Lyndon Rodrigues SFX, Convenor of Diocesan centre of Missionary animation compered on the occasion.
Archbishop thanked the Diocesan Centre of missionary animation, Diocesan Pastoral secretariat and New age printers for their tireless efforts in bringing out the pastoral letter, Pastoral Diary and Pastoral Planner, in spite of being handicapped by lockdown. It was also informed that an introductory video by Archbishop and explanatory sessions on the pastoral letter shall be prepared by the respective in-charges and made available through the Diocesan Centre for social Communications media (DCSCM), soon.
PASTORAL LETTER 2020-21
GONVLLIK CHITT 2020-21
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