The Diocesan Family Service Centre (DFSC), Goa and Daman celebrated the Day dedicated for ‘the Natural Family Planning’ on the 16th Sunday in the Ordinary Time, 19th July 2026. This year, it was celebrated at St. Anthony Church, Vagator, Bardez – Goa. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated at 7.30 a.m. of which Fr. Albano Fernandes, the Director of the DFSC was the main celebrant. Keeping in mind the importance of the married couple’s decision with regard to planning their families and the relevant modern concern about the decline of the number of children in our families, Fr. Albano stressed upon the couples gathered for the Holy Eucharist to understand that the Natural Family Planning is a design created by God when He created man and woman in His image and likeness. Reflecting on God’s Word, he said that as sinners we might as couple failed to follow God’s will in procreation of children for which we can ask God’s forgiveness because our God is all kind and merciful. He further stated that to abide by God’s will to bring children to birth through a natural way implies challenges. However, these challenges can be faced with self-control, firmness and courage when each couple remains faithful to their prayer life. Here, he enlightened the faithful about the current pastoral theme ‘Abide in Me’ by encouraging them to be faithful to their prayer life as a couple seeking God’s will in raising their family. When they participate Mass as a couple, recite Rosary and pray together as a couple, he assured them of the grace of the Holy Spirit and presence of Mother Mary accompanying them in their marital journey. And, lastly, he asked them to reflect upon the necessity of seeking God’s will in their marital journey in their mission of respecting human life and upholding it’s dignity and the human will which could be supporting contraceptives and other artificial ways of fulfilling their sexual intimacy. He encouraged the couples to be open to life and be gracious/generous to accept children as God’s gifts through NFP method. He ended by pleading with the couples to raise more than two children when they can afford to have a larger family.
After the Holy Eucharist, Ms. Perpetua D’Souza and Augusta Cardozo, who are involved with the DFSC for many years and are experienced instructors of the NFP method for couples during the Marriage Preparation courses for the engaged couples, addressed the gathering. They both helped the faithful to understand what the NFP is and its benefits to build a happy, healthy and holy family. Among many other important details and information, they highlighted the qualities of this method in promoting stronger bonding between the husband and wife and the love with which children are embraced and educated.
He thanked Fr. Marcelino de Souza, the Parish Priest, who gladly accepted the invitation to celebrate this day in his Parish and also for his warm welcome and collaboration to allow his parishioners know more about the Natural Family Planning method. He also appreciated the Parishioners for their precious time and encouraged them to be the evangelizers of the NFP.
