The 10th World Meeting of Families was celebrated in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman at Se Cathedral, Old Goa. The event was organized by the Diocesan Family Service Centre in collaboration with Missionary Families of Christ (MFC), Christian Family Movement (CFM), Marriage Encounter (ME) and Retrovaille.
During the Eucharistic celebration, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, who was the main celebrant, reminded the congregation about the importance of family in the growth of the Universal Church. “Marriage is a vocation,” he reminded, “and you were chosen not by chance but by choice. God has called you to a married way of life. And every vocation is a sign of God’s special predilection.”
Recalling the words of Pope Francis, Archbishop Filipe Neri said, “Our Pope said that Catholic marriage is a gift, not just a formality or a tool. Reflecting on the theme ‘Family Love: Vocation and path to holiness’,” he said that each family member must work towards that holiness in the family.
Archbishop Filipe Neri mentioned that married people need to promote the culture of life. “God has made each of the couples collaborators of His creation. The culture of faith also needs to be encouraged in the families. The deep faith we have received from our ancestors need to be passed on to future generations,” he stated. The Archbishop quoted Pope Francis wherein he says that in marriage Christ gives himself to the spouses in the Eucharistic celebration so that husband and wife may in turn give themselves to one another.
At the end of the celebration, the Diocesan Family Service Centre felicitated all those families across Goa, who were blessed with four or more children. They received a certificate of appreciation at the hands of the Archbishop. Steve and Edna from the parish of Anjuna also shared an enriching testimony, after being blessed with two differently-abled children.