PANAJI
As part of its 365th year of celebrations, St John the Baptist Church at Pilerne will organise a host of programmes throughout the year and the celebrations will commence on June 23 with the feast of St John the Baptist.
Some of the events lined up include Matechem Fest (Soil Festival), a parish exchange programme at Daman and a pilgrimage of St Joseph Vaz to Sri Lanka.
To mark this event, a special logo and theme was unveiled by Parish Priest Fr Derick Fernandes, Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) members Terryll Coutinho (PPC Moderator), Maria Fernandes (PPC Secretary), Peter Fernandes (PPC Treasurer), and Xavier Fernandes (Fabrica president).
On the Feast Day (June 23), a Mass will be celebrated at 7 am, while the 9 am Mass will be presided over by Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barretto.
Bishop Barretto will also declare the 365th year open. This year, the feast will be celebrated on June 23 as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is on June 24, the Friday of the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The Matechem Fest to be held on October 2 will be curated by Goa's festakar Marius Fernandes.
Fr Derick said the Matechem Fest will be an annual event, which will focus on soil conservation and promoting local talent in the village.
