Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman formally inaugurated its Pastoral Year 2026–2027 and released the annual Pastoral Letter titled “Abide in Me” during a solemn Eucharistic celebration held at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Chiplem, on the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.
The inauguration was led by Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão along with Simião Fernandes, in the presence of priests, religious and lay representatives from across the Archdiocese.
The pastoral year was officially launched with the unveiling of the theme logo, centred on the biblical call “Abide in Me” (John 15:4), symbolising the faithful’s relationship with Christ through faith, formation and sacramental life.
In his homily, Cardinal Ferrão urged Christians to become enthusiastic witnesses of faith by remaining firmly rooted in Christ and bearing lasting fruits of love, service and communion. Reflecting on the themes of the Pastoral Letter, he highlighted three key pillars of Christian life — Rootedness in Faith, Formation in Faith and Celebration of Faith.
Speaking on rootedness in faith, the Cardinal stressed that Baptism initiates believers into a living relationship with God, fellow human beings and creation. He encouraged families, parish communities and Small Christian Communities to regularly engage with and reflect upon the Word of God.
Addressing faith formation, Cardinal Ferrão described the family as the first school of faith and emphasised that parents play a vital role in nurturing Christian values. He also underlined the collective responsibility of the Church community in supporting ongoing faith formation.
On the celebration of faith, he reaffirmed the central place of the Eucharist in Christian life, describing it as the source and summit of faith through which believers are strengthened to live as witnesses of Christ’s love.
Following the Mass, Bishop Simião Fernandes presented an overview of the Pastoral Letter, explaining how its vision is built around the interconnected dimensions of faith rootedness, formation and celebration.
Fr. Leo Fernandes, Executive Secretary of the Diocesan Pastoral Secretariat, explained the significance of the newly unveiled logo. He noted that the grapevine intertwined with the Cross represents the call to remain united with Christ, while the Scriptures at its base symbolise the life-giving Word of God. Human figures in the logo depict the faithful journeying together in faith formation, while Eucharistic symbols highlight the fruitfulness of sacramental life.
The event concluded with a cultural programme inspired by the pastoral theme, highlighting the call for Christians to abide in Christ through faith-filled living and authentic Christian witness.
