By Bro. John Malvino Alfonso, OCD –
Responding to the desire of the Goa Archbishop, Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrão, to have a Divine Mercy devotion in every parish and chapel of the Goa Archdiocese, the Superior of the Carmelite Monastery Rev. Dr. Archibald Gonsalves led the mission to promote this devotion. As of today, 112 Divine Mercy Groups of the parish and chapels have been formed in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman by the Carmelite Friars. In this connection, a novena in preparation to the Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations will begin on Good Friday, 19th April, 2019.
Preaching on different themes of Divine Mercy which will be held from the 4th Day of Novena, 22nd April, led by Fr. Kenneth Teles (Director, Diocesan Family Service Centre), Fr. Myron Sequeira, SFX (Pilar Provincialate, Margao), Fr. Mariano D’costa, (Director, Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate), Fr. Afonso Mendonça, (Director, Diocesan Centre for Liturgy), Fr. Savio Fernandes (Executive Secretary, Council for Social Justice and Peace) and Fr. Jorge Fernandes (Director, Diocesan Centre for lay Apostolate).
In 2016, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão had asked the Carmelites in Goa to promote Divine Mercy devotion in the Archdiocese. Today, 90 parishes and 22 chapels have Divine Mercy groups formed by the Carmelites.
These include parishes and chapels of Agassaim, Agonda, Corjuem (Aldona), Ambelim (Assolna) Assonora, Aquem, Azossim, Baina, Bambolim, Benaulim (St. John the Baptist), Patrocinio Chapel, Pulvaddo (St. John the Baptist-Benaulim), Holy Trinity, Benaulim, Betalbatim, Betul, Bhatpal, Bicholim, Bodiem, Bogmolo, Borim, Cabo-De- Rama, Camurlim (Salcete), Canacona, Cananguinim, Nuem (Cananguinim), Calvim, Carambolim, Cavelossim, Guirdolim (Chandor), Deussua (Chinchinnim), Sirlim (Chinchinnim), Chiplem, Colem, Corgao, Corlim, Cotto-de-Fatorpa, Cuncolim, Murida (Cuncolim), Panzorconi (Cuncolim), Curtorim, Vanvottem (Curtorim), Dabal, Desterro, Dramapur, Duler, Fatorda, Galgibaga, Loliem, Xellim (Loliem) Lotoulim, Carvota (Lotoulim), Macasana, Majorda, Mandrem,Mandur, Marcela, Mardol, Margao (Our Lady of Grace), Mungul (Holy Spirit, Margao) Mormugao (Harbour), Nachionola, Telaulim (Navelim), Zorivaddo (Navelim), Nerul, Neura, Old Goa, Panchwaddi, Paroda, Penha de Franca, Pernem, Pirna, Pomburpa, Ponda, Mount Carmel Chapel (Ponda), Quelossim, Quepem, Querim, evora, Rivona, Sadolxem, Ordofond (Sadolxem) Saligao, Salvador–do- Mundo, Sancoale, Sanguem, Molcornem (Sanguem), Uguem (Sanguem), Sanvordem, São Bras, São Jacinto, São Jose de Areal, Sarzora, Seraulim, Siroda, Sirsaim, Socorro, Vaddem (Socorro), Tollecanto, Tiracol, Tivim, Cansa (Tivim), Tormas, Tropa, Tuem,Usgao, Utorda, Vaddem-Curdi, Vaidongor, Valpoi, Birondem (Valpoi), Velim, Velsao and Verna. More groups will be formed in the coming pastoral year.
All the parishes and chapels of Canacona, Sanguem and Ponda, deaneries of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman have Divine mercy groups.
Archbishop had expressed his desire to have Divine Mercy devotion in every parish and chapel of the Archdiocese at the celebration of the Divine Mercy Sunday 2016, as a part of the celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy and requested the Carmelites to promote this devotion.
Accordingly, a letter was sent by Rev. Dr. Socorro Mendes, Convenor of the celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Archdiocese to all the parish priests and the resident Chaplains, conveying this great news and requesting them to contact Carmelite friars for the promotion of Divine Mercy devotion in their parishes.
Carmelites, under the leadership of the Superior of the Carmelite monastery Margao Rev. Dr. Archibald Gonsalves, began their mission. But in June 2017, one more letter (with CP/2967/2017) requesting the parish priests and resident Chaplains was sent by the Carmelites to contact Br. Malvino Alfonso, co-ordinator of the Promotion of Divine Mercy Devotion to express their wish to have this devotion in their parishes and chapels.
A team of Carmelites friars went to the parishes and highlighted the real meaning of the devotion. Background of this devotion, details of Divine Mercy, Life of Saint Faustina, and explanation of the picture of the Divine Mercy, Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Theology of the feast, Mercy of God and our families were some of the themes covered during the process of formation of the groups. Guidelines were given to the groups to function smoothly.
Accordingly, the group will lead this devotion once in the month (or as per the pastoral situation in the parish) in the parish. All the Divine Mercy groups will function as per the direction of their respective parish priests and chaplains. More formation sessions will be held in the parishes as per the request. Apart from formative sessions, one day seminar was held for the groups of Sanguem deanery.
Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations in Margao Monastery
Rev. Dr. Jose Remedios Fernandes will preside over the Eucharistic celebration on Divine Mercy Sunday, 28th April, 2019 at 5.00 p.m. at the Carmelite Monastery Margao. The theme taken for the Eucharistic celebration is “Tannem tankam aple hat ani kus dakhoili “(“He showed them his hands and his side.” -Jn.20:20.) The Eucharistic Adoration will be conducted at 4.00 p.m. Animators and representatives from 112 Divine Mercy groups formed by the Carmelite Friars will be participating in the celebration. Mementos will be presented to each group by the Vicar General.
Posters along with the booklet which contains Divine Mercy Chaplet, Novena prayers, liturgy for Novena and Sunday mass has been sent to all the parishes, chapels and religious institutions in the Archdiocese.