Rev. Fr. Jorge Fernandes, Director of the Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate, welcomed the gathering at the introductory seminar held on April 6, 2025, at Lar de Estudantes, Panjim, marking the installation of the Diocesan Women Commission. A new committee for the Diocesan Women’s Commission was formed and announced in the meeting, and their responsibilities were explained. Fr. Jorge also read the General Guidelines and explained and discussed by the house.
His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and equality, highlighting Genesis 1:27, “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Cardinal Ferrao outlined the 3-year synodal journey of the Church, based on the pillars of Communion, Participation, and Mission, and declared that the Guidelines of the Diocesan Women Commission have been approved, along with the Vision-Mission statement.
The meeting brought together women from diverse professional backgrounds, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives. Through a productive group discussion, participants shared their expertise and experiences, ultimately yielding effective solutions to drive positive change. Mrs. Elaine Dias, gave a talk on Motivation- The Legacy that breaths”, and explained, how women can move together in building gods kingdom.
Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes guided the participants, sharing his insights as a biblical scholar, emphasizing how Jesus empowered women, citing the example of Mary Magdalene, and concluded his guidance with a meaningful acronym: W – Wealth, O – Optimism, M – Motivation, A – Appreciation, N – Nurturing.
The Diocesan Executive Committee and Zonal Co-ordinators were appointed, and the programme was compered by Ms. Myra, with Ms. Ninfa Da Silva proposing the vote of thanks, marking a significant milestone in the journey of the Diocesan Women Commission.
