THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
Describing the Cloistered Carmelite Monastery at Chicalim as a powerful instrument of God’s blessings and a spiritual house of prayer for the Church in Goa, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão said the sisters live in close intimacy in God and raise constant prayers to God for the Church in Goa.
Archbishop Ferrão was the main celebrant for the solemn Eucharistic celebration at the chapel of Cloistered Carmel, Chicalim, to mark 75 years of its foundation in the Archdiocese in Goa.
Fr Silvestre D’Souza (Superior of the Carmelite Monastery, Margao), Fr Ronald D’Souza (Councillor for Formation of Carmelites), Fr Valentine Alphonso (Superior of Pallotti Home, Chicalim), Fr Peter Fernandes (Assistant to the Parish Priest of St Francis Xavier, Church, Chicalim), Fr Patricio Fernandes (Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa)and 14 other Carmelite and Pallotine priests concelebrated in the Mass, while Carmelite Brothers and Canossian sisters participated in the Eucharistic celebration.
Archbishop Ferrão recalled the contribution of the archbishops, parish priests, Jesuits and the Carmelites nuns in the foundation of the Monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
Expressing his gratitude towards the Cloistered nuns, the Prelate said the sisters live in close intimacy in God and raise constant prayers to God for the Church in Goa.
“Whenever I come to visit these sisters, I am always touched with the joy they radiate through their life. They are a powerful source of blessing. We thank God for them and their spiritual presence in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman,” said Archbishop Ferrão.
“I wish and pray that the good Lord may inspire many young people to respond to this way of life so that not only this community of Carmelite sisters may continue to be a vibrant community, but God willing they may be able to offer other Cloistered Carmelite communities in India with more vocations to enrich their life,” said Archbishop Filipe Neri, who is also the President of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI).
Fr Ronald D’Souza, Fr Peter Fernandes and Sr Luiza Fernandes, Mother Prioress of the Cloistered Carmel, Chicalim, also spoke on the occasion.
The daily Eucharist is the central act of the day for the 15 Cloistered nuns presently in the community. This praise and thanksgiving is prolonged throughout the day, when the community comes together to pray the 7 hours of the Divine Office.
The nuns spend two hours in mental prayer and there are times for personal spiritual reading. The nuns also have daily recreations and other community celebrations.
The daily schedule includes community service like gardening and kitchen, and works for their livelihood like, baking of altar bread, embroidery, vestments etc.
