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| Mapusa Deanery with Bishop Simiao Fernandes. |
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| Bishop Simiao Fernandes speaks on the Pastoral Letter (2026-2027) |
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| Fr. Heston Ferrao speaks on Magnifica Humanitas. |
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| Father Leo Fernandes speaks on Mission 2033. |
-Brian Mendonca
The Pastoral Enrichment Programme held today at Thivim was part of the ongoing formation for Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) members of the parishes of the North Zone of Goa. They included Deaneries of Aldona, Bicholim, Calangute, Mapusa, Pernem, and Siolim.
The programme was held 'to renew, enrich, and strengthen, the Diocesan, Deanery, and PPCcouncils through a spirit of synodal formation.' Being from Porvorim parish, our PPC members were listed in Mapusa Deanery.
The programme is usually held at the beginning of the new pastoral year; in this case 2026-2027. The programme from 9 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. at the spacious Livramente Hall, Thivim, was well-organized. After the registration, Mass was concelebrated in Konkani by Bishop Simiao Fernandes, the Parish Priest of St. Christopher church, Thivim, and Fr. Leo Fernandes.
The Bishop is the Director of the Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat (DPS) in Panjim and Fr. Leo is the Executive Secretary of the DPS. The Sunday readings today were inspiring. 'My word . . . shall not return to me empty.' (Isaiah 55: 10-11) and the parable of the sower. (Mathew 13: 1-23). The choir from Assonora sang the hymns devoutly.
Fr. Simiao began the first session on the Pastoral Letter of the Archbishop Felipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao for the year 2026-2027. Booklets of the letter were available at the venue along with the nifty blue pocket pastoral diary which I always pick up. Fr. Simiao prefaced his comments by saying there are many pressures today like the crisis in nature, migration, and the scourge of AI. There are people who talk but none to listen.
'Uloipi ha, aikopi na.' Stressing on the theme 'Abide in me' (John 15:4) for this year, he urged his flock to give more time to God. We are drawn to activities, while Jesus stands at the door. Formation is necessary, adoration and reading the gospel. This should not be a one-time act, but ongoing and habitual.
To abide in Him the three pillars are 1. Rootedness in faith 2. Formation in faith and 3) Celebration of faith. 1. 'Bible becomes a logos', the word of God is more powerful than any double-edged sword. Rootedness in faith can be enhanced by reading the Bible at home. Lectio Divina can be practised. This is a prayerful reading of the scripture leading to discernment. Bible study groups can be formed. Bibles can also be gifted. Digital media needs to be harnessed to spread the Word.
2. Formation in faith can be enhanced by praying together, saying the rosary and the angelus, praying at meal times. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life 3. Jesus celebrated the Jewish feasts. Liturgical music helps us to celebrate the Word. Let us form small human communities, said the Bishop. Reach out to the lonely, and the elderly. TFRCC TV recordings are available for formation.
Fr. Heston Ferrao focussed on the encyclical of the present Pope titled Magnifica Humanitas: Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence. He dwelt on the fact that the human being is being debased in today's times. Invasion of privacy, takeover of essential services like electricity and phone connectivity by private parties spell disaster for the future. Artificial beaches built in villages by big builders do not augur well for Goa. 'How many of you supported the Karapur agitation?' he asked.
The Gospel must speak to the needs of the people. This is the social doctrine of the church. Social media and shaming caused the death of a youth from Mapusa. Cultivate citizen journalism. Have a solidarity meet. Reels zaopak zai. Showing a clip from the movie Jamtara (2023) Father said we have to disarm AI and prevent it from harming humanity. Machines can become smarter but only humans can love, suffer, forgive, sacrifice, and encounter God.
In building community Father used the analogies of the tower of Babel and the reconstruction of Israel by Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 1-2) Nehemiah was a synodal leader. He fasted and prayed before any action. He examined the destroyed area in silence. Convened a meeting, assigned a part of the wall to different groups to rebuild it. Listen to all. The holy spirit illumines us. Address any opposition. Without opposition there is dictatorship. Jerusalem is rebuilt. All partake. (and perform).
Get your hands dirty on the construction site. Migrants, the poor, the sick are the rejected stones. Remember them in the next reeconstituiton of the PPF. Ganti is a wrong word. Technology is never neutral: Musk, Tesla. Bezos. AI cameras should also detect potholes. AI is fast. Reduces person to performance. Recognizes patterns. Organize a low tech program. SSVP, can the PPC help them? Part of the proceeds should go to the poor. Have a common picnic for the full parish. Erase digital inequality. Arrange face-to-face meeting to be human. Be aware of how screentimes in harming the youth. These were some of the suggestions put forward.
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