The Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ celebrated the 90th anniversary of its foundation at their Mother House at Calangute. Bishop Simião P Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Fr Nazareth Fernandes, superior general, Society of Pilar, Fr Polly Lobo, parish priest of St Alex Church, Calangute concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.
Delivering homily, Bishop Simião invited the faithful to praise God for the blessings he has bestowed on the congregation and for the gift of the Founder, Monsignor Herculano Gonsalves. Bishop introduced the ‘3 R’s’ for the occasion: Recount, Renew, and Revisit. Bishop Simião remarked that the vision of the Founder, Monsignor Herculano Gonsalves, aligns with the vision of the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, which calls to leave one’s comfort zone and go to the lonely, the sick, the poor, the youth, the elderly, and those on the peripheries. “Monsignor Herculano had a vision for the neglected and the poor. The Jubilee Year 2025 is an occasion for us to move with hope,” the Prelate noted.
Sr Faria Barretto, the Mother General of the Congregation expressed deep gratitude to God. The Mother General said, “We remain steadfast in our mission, embodying the love of Christ and serving as a beacon of hope in our quest to proclaim the good news to all we come in contact with.”
She also shared the heartfelt desire among the sisters for Msgr Herculano Gonsalves to be officially recognized as a saint. Herculano Choir led liturgical singing. Bishop Simião received a warm welcomed from the musical band of Little Flower of Jesus High School, Calangute. The Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ seized the opportunity to felicitate Bishop Simião Fernandes on his Episcopal Ordination and his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. The felicitation was conducted by Sr Faria Barretto, Mother General of the Congregation presenting a shawl, as Sr Rosy Dias, presented him with a flower vase; Sr Perpetua Vaz HC, gifted him a Grotto of Our Lady prepared by Sr Loretta Vaz and Sr Apollonia Cardozo, offered a memento. Novices and formees of the Congregation performed a prayer dance for the felicitation programme. Additionally, a musical operetta depicting the life of Fr Herculano Gonsalves, founder of the congregation, was presented by the children of St Alex Orphanage in Calangute, under the guidance of Sr Joanita D’Souza and Sr Perpetua Vaz, General Councilor. Felicitation Song Nysha Pereira which was composed by Neville Pereira, Manddo by Sr Dorothy Dsouza HC and Sisters presented, followed by the cutting of a Foundation Day cake. Sr Justina Vaz, General Councilor, anchored the entire program.
The Sisters of the Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ was canonically erected on September 24, 1949, marking this year as the 75th anniversary of its canonical establishment. The congregation comprises 137 professed members and 4 formees, with 21 communities located within the state and 11 communities extending beyond its borders.