Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão releasing The Goan’s ‘Holly Jolly Christmas 2023’ magazine at the Archbishop’s House on Saturday in the presence of The Goan Editor Joel Afonso, Goan Varta Editor Pandurang Goankar, The Goan News Editor Manuel Nunes an
Photo Credits: Narayan Pissurlenkar
PANAJI
Stating that the Christmas story teaches about simplicity, humility and the transformative power of love, Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão called upon people to build together a society where everyone belongs and is recognised and loved and where goodwill and harmony will prevail.
Cardinal Ferrão extended his heartfelt Christmas greetings to Goans in Goa and around the globe through his message in the special Christmas magazine of The Goan, which he released in the Archbishop’s House on Saturday.
“In a world that seems to be increasingly invaded by divisive forces, with violence raging unabated and snuffing out innocent lives in its war-torn and conflict-ridden areas, Christmas comes to remind us once again that our shared humanity unites us far more strongly than our differences divide us,” stated Cardinal Ferrão, in his message in the Christmas magazine.
“For the One whose holy birth we celebrate at Christmas has come to teach us to transcend the various boundaries (of our own making) that isolate or divide us and to discover new paths of peace and brotherhood that bring us together on this our shared earthly journey.”
Cardinal Ferrão said the Christmas story “teaches us about simplicity, humility and the transformative power of Love”.
“The Holy Family -- Jesus, Mary and Joseph -- found refuge in a humble stable, devoid of human warmth. May we learn an important lesson from this: that, as human beings, we need to open our hearts to those in need, offering them the warmth of our compassion and the shelter of our kindness. We might then become agents of the transformative power of Love.”
As people celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, Cardinal Ferrão called upon people to strive to be “peacemakers among communities and inside our own communities”.
“May our actions be guided by the principles of justice, mercy and reconciliation. By fostering an environment of understanding and respect, we can contribute to the realisation of the angels’ proclamation: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill.”
