MARGAO
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao led the faithful in celebrating the feast of Divine Mercy on Sunday at the Carmelite Monastery, Aquem-Margao.
The Archbishop, who was the main celebrant of the Concelebrated Mass, exhorted the faithful to shun sins to experience the divine mercy and share the mercy with others, in the family, community and the church.
“Let us pray for three things as we celebrate Divine Mercy today. Let us ask for forgiveness of our sins to experience the divine mercy and share this mercy with others in our families, communities and the Church. The occasion also reminds us to keep our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and experience his mercy,” the Archbishop said.
The Archbishop recalled the events in the history of salvation and said that God showed mercy towards His chosen people and sent his only son Jesus to continue His mercy. “Jesus is the face of God’s mercy,” said the Archbishop quoting Pope Francis.
He said that prayer, Word of God and Sacrament of Confession will help the faithful to experience God’s mercy and become merciful. He congratulated the Carmelites for promoting the devotion of Divine Mercy. He requested the Divine Mercy Parish/Chapel groups to deepen the dimension of mercy in their life.
Fr Mark Furtado OCD was the liturgical commentator. Participation of the representatives of the Divine Mercy Parish/Chapel groups added more meaning to the liturgy. Mementos were presented at the hands of Archbishop Ferrão to the group representatives as a token of love and appreciation.
Fr Archibald Gonsalves OCD, Superior of the Carmelite Monastery, Margao proposed the vote of thanks. Adoration which was conducted by Divine Mercy Group of Our Lady of Remedies Church, Betalbatim, held before the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration.
Divine Mercy Sunday celebration was also held in all the Churches of the Archdiocese in the morning.
It is recalled that Archbishop Ferrão has asked and gave permission to the Carmelites in Goa to promote Divine Mercy Devotion in the Archdiocese of Goa Daman. Accordingly, a team of Carmelites Friars went to the parishes on request and explained the true meaning of the devotion and covered other themes relating to this devotion and formed 56 Divine Mercy Parish/ Chapel groups.
The Archbishop also recalled the heroics of Blessed Rani Maria, a martyr of the Catholic Church.
Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira (Secretary to Archbishop), Fr Carmo Martins ( Parish Priest, Our Lady of Grace Church, Margao), Fr Archibald Gonsalves (Superior, Carmelite Monastery, Margao), Fr Sylvestre D’Souza ( Secretary to OCD Provincial), and other priests concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.
