VASCO
The Parish of St Francis Xavier Church at Chicalim inaugurated its Parish Women’s Cell, the first one to be formed from among the 163 parishes in Goa. Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira, members of the Diocesan Women’s Commission (DWC) and the parish delegates were present at the event on July 24. The SFX Parish Women’s Cell adopted Santa Rita de Cascia as their Patroness.
The DWC of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman is an organ of the Diocesan Center for Lay Apostolate in Goa and one of its goals is to establish sustainable women cells along with the empowerment of women in the Parish.
The SFX parish representative from the Mormugao deanery in the Diocesan Women’s Commission, with guidance from Fr Bolmax Pereira and Fr Francis Xavier Pereira got together strong, well-qualified and hard working women form the Parish to set up the Parish women’s cell.
The team comprises Dr U J Wanda Viegas (Coordinator), Filomena Pereira (Secretary), Cynthia D’Souza (Treasurer), Advocate Rochelle Rizzeria Roseline Pacheco and Suzie Rodrigues (members) and Saviola Fernandes (Spiritual member).
The prayer service was led by Filomena Pereira, followed by a reflection by Fr Francis Xavier on the reading about the Apostleship of Mary Magdalena. He called upon the women to also be Apostles like Mary Magdalene to deepen people’s faith.
DWC Coordinator Elaine Dias spoke on the vision, mission and goals of the women’s Commission and how women can be empowered by reaching out to them, attending and conducting talks/seminars and organising events to enrich each other.
Coordinator for the Parish Women’s Cell, Dr U J Wanda Viegas introduced and welcomed the team of the Parish Women’s Cell. She addressed all 30 ladies present at the gathering telling them about their motto, goals and the way forward to go on with Parish Women Cell for the term of 3 years.
She called upon all the women present to work together with compassion to revive, rejuvenate and rejoice to spread happiness.
Incidentally, the Parish Women’s Cell has been formed during the 400 years celebrations of St. Francis Xavier Church.
