Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: The annual Chrism Mass of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman was celebrated by Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair, Alex Dias, Vicar General Jose Remedious Fernandes and priests representatives from all over the Archdiocese, at Se Cathedral Church, Old Goa at 10 am on 10th April, 2025.
The main objective of the Chrism Mass is to express more clearly the Presbyterian communion of the priests with their Bishop and the blessings of the Holy Oils.
Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes, in his homily, highlighted three qualities a priest should have while fulfilling their ministry.
These were Availability, just as Jesus made himself available for the People priests have to be available to their people in their needs, secondly a priest should be humble like the saviour, Just as Jesus washed the feet of his disciple priests should be humble in their service, they should avoid clericalism, in the third place the priests should be inclusive.
They should try to reach out to all people under their care and give opportunities to as many as possible. Especially to reach out to those who have been kept as outcasts in society.
He also invited the people to pray for all priests and Deacons of the Archdiocese, while also asking the people to pray for Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao who celebrated his episcopal ordination day.
The Chrism mass has special significance as the Bishop expresses his bond with the Priests and all the faithful during the mass. The priests in their turn resolve to work under the fatherly care and guidance of their Bishop, who in turn asks for prayers from priests and faithful to help him reflect on the life of Christ. This unique celebration unites the Bishop, all the Priests working in the Archdiocese and the faithful they cater to.
During this mass, the Bishop also blessed the Holy Oils, namely, the Oil of the Catechumens (Oleum Catechumenorum), the Oil of the Sick (Oleum Infirmorum), and the Holy Chrism Oil (Sacrum Chrisma).
The Chrism mass ended with the release of Pastoral Diary for the coming Year at the hands of Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes, Bishop Alex Dias, Emeritus Bishop of Port Blair Diocese, Vicar General Jose remedious Fernandes and Pastoral Secretariat executive secretary Fr. Leo Fernandes. The Pastoral Diary which has the Schedule for Major events in the Archdiocese has been prepared under the direction of the Pastoral Secretariat of the Archdiocese.
