FIRST JUBILEE RALLY IN OLD GOA

FIRST JUBILEE RALLY IN OLD GOA

Archbishop Raul Gonsalves and Bishop Fillipe Neri Ferrao concelebrating
the mass.

Photos & Article by William Rodrigues

JEZU CHRIST JAYANTI JUBILEE CELEBERATIONS

DAY 1 - Rally of Church Associations

The Jezu Krist Jayanti 2000 (Jubilee Committee ogf Goa) decided to have three Rallies in November: On 22nd - of Parish Pastoral Councils and Basic Christian Communities, on 23rd - of Religious men and women and on 24th - of all Church Associations.

Together with these rallies, this year the Novenas and Feast of St. Francis Xavier has special significance, since the entire programme constitutes the culmination of the Jubilee Celebrations of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.

To wipe off the bitter past of Hatred and Pride and build Basic Communities of Love and Peace was the need spelt out in every item presented at the first Rally today.

The Rally on Parish Pastoral Councils and Basic Christian Communities was organised by the Pastoral Plan Secretariat. The entire programme was beautifull planned and efficiently executed by the Diocesan Training team for PPCs and BCCs. About seven thousand faithful and more than three hundred priest from all over Goa participated in the Rally.

After the formal prayer led by Siolim PPC, a prayer dance by five young lasses from Assonora set the mood of the day. the Convenor of the JKJ 2000 Committee, Fr. Almir de Souza extended a warm welcome to the mammoth gathering, after the Roll call of the parishes was completed. He called for a recommitment to the ideals of the first Christian communities in our present times.

The urgent need to begin PCCs and BCCs was ably depicted in the form of testimonies skits, poems, panel discussion, debate, action songs and operatta. Also a cassette "Mogan Ekvottan Jieum-ia" and a booklet " Mogan Ekvottan Jietat" was released to commemorate the occasion. The auxilary Bishop, Msgr. Filipe Neri Ferrao exalted the work of the parishes and called on them to be communities of concern and love.

The finale was the concelebrated Eucharistic Banquet presided by the Archbishop Patriarch Raul Gonsalves, who in the homily expressed joy and satisfaction not only about the programme but also of the overall work done in this regard. Fr. Leonardo Pegado, Secretary of the Pastoral Plan Secretariat, who was the main organiser of this rally, proposed the vote of thanks.

The success of this first rally resounded that the third millenium indeed belongs to the laity. This is a powerful indication of the strides the Church of Goa has made to be firmly rooted in Christ Jesus.

Photo Gallery
Photos By William Rodrigues

click on thumbnail images for larger ones

a & b) Hordes of faithful arrive at Old Goa.

c) A Group Discussion in progress

d) An action song

e) An operatta being staged

e1) A debate in progress

f) Pondering the issues, while watching a performance by laypeople.

g) A section of the mammoth crowd, approx. 7,000 people.

h) Hand in Hand the clergy and laypeople singpraises to the Lord.

i) A skit put up by the Siolkars

j) A section of the Assagao crowd.

l) Archbishop Raul Gonsalves, Bishop Fillipe Neri Ferrao, Fr. Almir
D'Souza (Director of Pastoral Institute) and Father Leonardo Pegado
(Secretary of the Pastoral Plan Secretariat)

DAY 2 - Rally of Church Associations

Old Goa was today literally painted in white as about 1700 religious converged there to partake in a rally of religious of Goa. 200 priests from 13 congregations, 200 brothers from 3 congregations and 1300 nuns from 42 congregations in Goa came together under the banner of the Conference of Religious of India - CRI (Goa Unit) to pool together their skills and experiences in addressing the problems faced by the greatly neglected groups in society.

The theme of today's rally was 'A Sign of Unity and Service in a broken world' and the purpose of this, rather historic rally, was to 'bear witness to our work', to 'express our solidarity' and ' renew our commitment and to find ways of responding to the changing situation'. The rally convened by Fr. Almir D'Souza commenced with a procession from the Se Cathedral grounds and wound its way to the pandal on the Basilica grounds.

The introductory remarks by Averthanus l. D'Souza were followed by a prayer dance presented by Margao's Presentation Convent, a talk show highlighting the mission and works of the religious and a musical skit by Rosary High School Dona Paula which was choreographed by Isabel Santa Rita Vaz.

In the talk show, representatives of CRI's four cells viz. Education, Social Action, Prison Ministry and Pastoral Ministry spoke about their activities and shared their experiences in the areas of school and non-formal education, work with the socially deprived masses (such as migrant workers, street children, prostitutes and their children, abandoned children, prisoners and the families of the prisoners). The emphasis was however on the joint collaborative work done by the religious.

Sister Laurentia sfn, Sister Augusta D'Souza, Sister Ruthleena Pallotine and Sister Venita highlighted the work done by the social action cell. Sister Jane Pinto sfn and Sister Celine fmck representing the Prison Minsitry Cell spoke about their work at the Aguada Jail. The Education Cell's efforts were put forth by Sister Valentin Pinto fmm, Fr. Paul Sagayam msfs and Brother Chandy (Montfort Brothers). Sister Noemia D'Souza dhm spoke on behalf of the Pastoral Cell. Sister Annie sfn highlighted the role of communication and media in education and in social life.

The rally ended with the celebration of the Eucharist led by the Auxillary Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and assisted by Fr. Theodore Pereira, President of CRI, and Fr. Sergio Mascarenhas. Archbishop Raul Gonsalves who was also present for the celebration expressed his satisfaction on the work done by the religious in Goa. Fr. Theodore Pereira proposed a vote of thanks.

Photo Gallery
Photos By William Rodrigues

click on thumbnail images for larger ones

a & b) The rally commences with a procession form the Se Cathedral grounds

c) A borad showing the theme of the rally

d) A section of the crowd

e) Auxillary Bishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and Fr. Sergio Mascarenhas share a
quiet moment.

f) A musical skit put up by Rosary High School, Dona Paula

g) The Eucharistic Celebration in progress

DAY 3 - Rally of Church Associations

If yesterday, the historic village of Old Goa was literally painted in white, today it was a sea of red with streaks of blue, green and all other hues as the Confrarias from all over Goa converged at Old Goa in solidarity with other Church Associations and Movements to partake in the jubilations of Jezu Christ Jayanti - the last day of the 3 rallies. These three rallies have been arranged to preceed the 9 day long novenas and feast of St. Francis Xavier.

In the words of the convenor Fr. Almir de Souza " Hi Jezu Christ Jayanti somorombhtana ami amchea mogacho ek jhelo koso jezuk bhettonvk chintlan. Tantun ami 3 shunvtim, 9 mogrim ani ek gulab ghalun vho jhelo gunthla ( meaning: the three rallies, the nine novenas and the Feast of St. Francis Xavier). " Vo jhelo ami jezuk bhettoitanam amchi zonn ekleachim kallzam ek - ek abolem koxem tea jhelea barabor Jezuk bhettonvya".

All Associations congregated at the Se Cathedral at 8.30 a.m. and after a short briefing proceeded in a procession in their respective groups to the pandal at the Basilica grounds. The following Associations took part:

1) Catholic Charasmatic Renewal
2) Catholic Nurses Guild
3) Christian Family Movement
4) Christian Workers Movement
5) Confrarias
6) Couples for Christ
7) Focolare Movement
8) Legion of Mary
9) Marriage Encounter
10) Neo-Cathecunenal Way
11) St. Luke's Medical Guild
12) Society of St. Vincent de Paul
13) World Apostolate of Fatima

Representatives of each group spoke about the good work carried out by them. The following is the list of representatives:

Catholic Charasmatic Renewal : Milagres Fernandes
Catholic Nurses Guild : Rosemary Fernandes
Christian Family Movement : Thomas & Catherine Monteiro
Christian Workers Movement : Deodita Furtado
Confrarias : Felix D'Cruz
Couples for Christ : Agnelo Fernandes (Chandor)
Focolare Movement : Dr. Edelweiss D'Sa
Legion of Mary : Agnelo Fernandes
Marriage Encounter : Iris & Leena D'Souza
Neo-Cathecunenal Way : John Pereira
St. Luke's Medical Guild : Dr. Silvano Sapeco
Society of St. Vincent de Paul : Amancio Fernandes
World Apostolate of Fatima : Anthony R. Viegas

A prayer dance and couple of action songs kept the audience enthralled. This was followed by the Liturgy which was concelebrated by Archbishop Raul Gonsalves and Auxillary Bishop Filip Neri Ferrao and other priests. A book 'Regulamento Giral das Confrarias' was released at the hands of Archbishop Raul Gonsalves. This book has the rules and regulations of the Confrarias in Portuguese as well as in English. His Grace expressed his happiness at seeing that womenfolk were joining, and taking an active part in, the
Confrarias.

A special hymn " Mha-Utsov! Vhodd Utsov! " had been composed specially for this rally and was sung today.