Auxiliary Bishop of Goa Joins Parishioners in Paddy Harvest

Tilamola, Goa, October 31, 2025: In a remarkable act of humility and solidarity, Auxiliary Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman joined the parishioners of Our Lady – Mother of the Poor Church, Tilamola, in harvesting paddy — transforming an ordinary field into a living testament of faith, ecology, and unity.

The day began with the Prayer of Blessing led by Bishop Simião, after which he took a sickle in hand and worked alongside farmers, priests, and youth. The event became a profound expression of “faith in action,” echoing Pope Francis’ call to care for creation and one another.

“Creation is God’s gift to us; we are its stewards, not its exploiters,” the Bishop said. “Much harm is being done to God’s creation today. As Chairman of the Western Region Commission for Ecology, I wanted to ‘walk the talk’ and encourage others to care for our common home.”

He emphasized the dignity of labour, urging young people to value work as a divine partnership in creation. “Every toil has value before God. I was happy to see many youth in the field — may they use their strength and creativity to cultivate the earth and care for it responsibly,” he added.

Fr. Aldrin D’Costa, Parish Priest of Tilamola Church, recalled how the initiative began “over a simple dinner conversation” with Assistant Priest Fr. Aidan Fernandes. A friend’s generous offer of land led to a small farming project that soon became a community mission.

This year, students from Tilamola and Paroda High Schools, along with members of the Diocesan Commission for Ecology, joined the parishioners in cultivating the fields. The idea of inviting the Bishop, Fr. Aldrin said, was spontaneous — and his acceptance “was a moment of grace.”

Fr. Aidan Fernandes reflected, “For two years, our parish has been cultivating fields to help the young rediscover traditional farming and stay rooted in creation. When our Bishop joined us, it felt like God was reminding us that simple actions can become sacred when done in love.”

Parishioners echoed similar sentiments. “It was heart-touching to see our Bishop working alongside us,” said Claudia Cardozo. “He taught us humility and reminded us to care for our Mother Earth.”

Youth participant Imson Fernandes said, “Seeing the Bishop work with us filled me with joy. It strengthened our sense of unity, belonging, and teamwork.”

Catechist Bernard Menezes added, “I had never seen a Bishop threshing grain and sharing conjee with dry fish. It was inspiring — a living image of a shepherd among his flock.”

Bishop Simião’s gesture went beyond symbolism. His act of physically joining the harvest embodied synodality — walking, working, and witnessing together as the People of God.

By Catholic Connect Reporter