Cardinal Ferrão Urges Faithful to Be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ at Goa’s Spiritual Concert

Goa, February 19, 2025: Cardinal Ferrão called on the faithful to embrace the Jubilee Year as a time of personal encounter with Christ, the ‘door’ of salvation, and emphasised the Church’s mission to proclaim this message to all during a spiritual concert hosted by the Catechetical Association of St. Thomas Church, Aldona, at the Kala Academy in Goa. The event, held on February 18, themed Bhorvanxeachim Yatrekaram ("Pilgrims of Hope"), aimed to nurture children's faith while showcasing their talents.

The programme was presided over by Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, while Bishop Simão Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, was the Guest of honour. The special invitees included Fr. Henry Falcão, Episcopal Vicar for the Central Zone, Fr. Marcelin Rodrigues, Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre, and Fr. Mario Leitão, Dean of Aldona Deanery.

Speaking on the occasion, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão urged the gathering to deepen their relationship with Jesus and become Pilgrims of Hope.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, who is also the President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), shared, "This Jubilee Year presents a God-given opportunity for us to experience Jesus more deeply and to proclaim Him as our hope." He added, "In this Spiritual Concert, we see how Jesus is the dawn of hope. Many saints, through their lives, became shining stars of hope."

He commended the Parish Priest, the Assistant Parish Priests, the Catechists, Catechism students, parents, and all the parishioners for organizing this meaningful spiritual concert.

The event featured a variety of spiritual and Biblical presentations, including songs, dances, enactments, and performances that unfolded into beautiful spiritual scenes. These were performed by the Sunday School children, the Parish Choir, and the children's choir, ‘Sweet Voices of St. Thomas’, accompanied by live music, conducted by Fr. Tomas Lobo.

During the event, Cardinal Ferrão also released a souvenir that served as a meaningful memento, symbolising the spiritual journey and collective effort of the community in organizing the concert.

The programme was narrated by Euan Ferrão, Aileen Vaz, Rosh D'Cruz, and Emmanuela Colaco. Sandhya Fernandes, Catechetical Animator of Aldona Parish, welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering and later expressed gratitude to all. The Spiritual Concert was graced by the presence of Carlos Ferreira, MLA of Aldona constituency, along with priests, nuns, and various other attendees.

The event was organised under the leadership of Fr. Tomas Lobo, Parish Priest of St. Thomas Church, Aldona, who is also the Episcopal Vicar for the North Zone. Fr. Agnelo Simoes, Assistant to the Parish Priest of Aldona, along with the catechists, parents, and parishioners of Aldona, provided valuable support.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD

Photo credit: Joseph Fernandes