PANAJI
Assolna Parish witnessed the vibrant celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday organised by the Divine Mercy Movement of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs Church, Assolna.
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Vicar General Fr Jose Remedios Fernandes and in his address to the congregation, appealed to the faithful to embody mercy in their daily interactions.
He stressed on the Decree issued by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, on the Divine Mercy Sunday and said it should be celebrated as ‘Divine Mercy Sunday’.
“Since it is a Sunday, there will not be a Novena celebrated prior to the Sunday celebration,” he clarified.
Fr Fernandes said there are 138 Divine Mercy Groups in the Parishes under the aegis of Divine Mercy Movement of the Archdiocese.
Since all groups are functioning under the guidance of the Parish Priests, the members were requested to co-operate with the Parish Priests/Chaplain for effective functioning.
Fr Ashley Alphonso, President of the Divine Mercy Movement in the Archdiocese, delivered an ardent homily, calling up believers to experience and share God’s boundless mercy.
He underscored the core objectives of the Movement, advocating for a deeper engagement with Scripture and participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as pathways to becoming vessels of God’s mercy.
Acknowledgments were extended to the Carmelites in Goa for their steadfast dedication to animating the Divine Mercy Movement in the Archdiocese over the past six years.
Fr Romeo Godinho, Parish Priest of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, welcomed the congregation and Rita Dias, Animator of the Divine Mercy Group of Assolna Parish, gave a testimony on the transformative power of God in her life.
Fr Donato Rodrigues, Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, also spoke.
The Parish Choir led the liturgical singing under the guidance of Fr Mansueto Fernandes, Assistant to the Parish Priest of Assolna Church.
The collaborative efforts of the Divine Mercy Group of Assolna Parish and the Divine Mercy Movement of the Archdiocese ensured the smooth coordination of the event.
Representatives of the Divine Mercy Groups from the Chinchinim deanery and other parishes participated in the celebration.
The aims and objectives of the Divine Mercy Movement include the revival of Catholic spiritual life according to the ideals of the Gospel, deepening trust in God's Mercy and growing in love of neighbour, promoting a compassionate, understanding, and merciful attitude towards fellow human beings, proclaiming and helping to experience God's merciful love, participating in the mission of Christ, and becoming instruments of reconciliation and forgiveness in families, neighbourhood communities, and parishes.
