PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão on Friday highlighted the importance of mutual respect and treating each others as equals.
He was addressing the 18th Major Superiors’ Meeting organised by the CRI (Goa) unit at the Pilar Pilgrim Centre in Pilar on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope on Synodal Pathway’. The gathering brought together Major Superiors of various congregations serving in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
Cardinal Ferrão graced the occasion alongside Auxiliary Bishop Bishop Simião Fernandes, Sr Bromadine Palokaran SCC, Provincial Superior of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod of Pune Province and Fr Nazareth Fernandes SFX, Superior General of the Society of Pilar.
Sr Livia Nunes, Secretary of CRI (Goa), presented the minutes from the previous year’s meeting, which were confirmed by the assembly.
The highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the final document of the Second Session of the Synod, titled ‘For A Synodal Church – Communion, Participation & Mission.’ Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, who is the president of CCBI, along with his team, led the discussion.
The team included Sr Flory Rodrigues FMCK (Part I: The Heart of Synodality), Sr Ayres Raimondo (Part II: In the Boat Together) and Fr Eugene D’Silva CSSR (Part III: Casting the Net).
Cardinal Ferrão introduced the topic and later shared his personal experience from the Synod and emphasised the importance of mutual respect and treating each others as equals.
Cardinal Ferrão, who is also the president of FABC, participated in both the 16th Ordinary Synod of Bishops in October 2023 and October 2024 in Rome, and is a member of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod. He also contributed to drafting the final document for the Synod on Synodality.
The meeting included a spiritual conversation session, facilitated by Fr Pedro Rodrigues, Provincial Superior of the Goa Province of the Society of Jesus. Various communities presented their reflections, promoting deeper dialogue and understanding. Fr Alan Noronha sfx and Fr Tony Salema guided the participants’ matters relating to education.
Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes along with his team, including Deron Rodrigues and Sr Sarita Nazareth CV dwelt on the theme ‘Jubilating Together in Our Archdiocese.’
During the concluding session of the meet, Fr Joaquim Fernandes SVD, Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, and Sr Audrey Dsouza, FDCC, Provincial Superior of St Xavier’s Centre Province of Canossian took the overview of the day. The meet was anchored by Sr Daisy Kunnathuparambil JMJ and Fr Clive Tellis SDB. Fr Michael Pereira SVD proposed a vote of thanks.
