Media Release
Panaji, Aug 31: The Conference of Religious India (CRI) Goa unit organised a pivotal study weekend on August 24, 25 at the St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre in Old Goa. This event, part of the preparations for jubilee 2025, focused on a detailed exploration of the second Vatican Council's Constitutions. The gathering brought together religious leaders and participants for an enriching examination of key church documents, setting a strong foundation for the upcoming jubilee celebrations.
Fr Joaquim Fernandes SVD, Episcopal vicar for religious, inaugurated the programme in the presence of Sr Flory Rodrigues FMCK, president of CRI-Goa; Fr Henry Falcão, director of St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Old Goa; Sr Luiza Fernandes MSP, Mother General of the Missionary Society of Our Lady of Pilar; Sr Faria Barretto HC, Mother general of the Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ; and Fr Eugene D’Souza, vice president of CRI-Goa.
Fr Candido Fernandes, director of the Pastoral Institute; Fr Henry Falcão, director of St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre; Fr Mariano D’Costa, director of the Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate; and Fr Maverick Fernandes, director of Caritas-Goa, delved into Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation), and Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the modern world) respectively.
Fr Eugene D’Silva, vice president of CRI-Goa and convenor of the programme, welcomed the gathering. Fr Henry Falcão, welcoming the participants on behalf of St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, briefed them on the facilities at the Centre. Students of St Anthony High School, Guirim performed a prayer dance during the inaugural ceremony.
Participants engaged in spiritual conversations based on questions provided by the resource persons and presented their reflections during the valedictory function, which was facilitated by Fr Henry Falcao. Seminarians from the redemptorists and Dominicans performed a skit on the four documents and also showed a video prepared on these documents during the valedictory programme. Participants had the opportunity to celebrate the Eucharist at the Miraculous Cross Chapel, presided over by Fr Joaquim Fernandes SVD.
Fr Michael Fernandes SVD and Fr Gabriel Fernandes OFM cap anchored the two-day event, with Fr Gabriel introducing all four resource persons. Sr Flory Rodrigues FMCK, president of CRI-Goa, expressed gratitude with a vote of thanks. 150 religious, including formers, serving in Goa participated in the programme. Participants expressed their appreciation to CRI-Goa for organizing such a valuable and insightful event.
CRI-Goa will continue to foster spiritual growth and reflection through upcoming focus on prayer days – deanery wise in the month of September as a preparation for the jubilee 2025 and the solemn eucharistic celebration planned for May 1, 2025, during which a special souvenir will be unveiled.