MARGAO: The Season of Creation 2026 was inaugurated at St Anne’s Church, Ponda, with Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Purificação Fernandes presiding over a solemn Eucharistic celebration, marking the start of the parish’s 40 Days of Ecology Action under the theme “Living Waters: From the Sanctuary to the World”.
Preparations began months earlier, with late Fr Bolmax Pereira, then Convener of the Diocesan Commission for Ecology (DCE), playing a key role. At a joint DCE and St Anne’s Parish Jubilee Committee meeting on April 28, the parish was confirmed as the 2026 Season of Creation parish, with events planned from September 1 to October 4.
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The meeting discussed initiatives including a “Green Homes” campaign, youth eco ambassadors, community outreach and greater Small Christian Community engagement. Fr Bolmax had said the review was part of a wider effort to integrate environmental action with Church programmes.
Following his death in May, the programme is being carried forward at St Anne’s, adding a dimension of continuity and legacy to this year’s observance.
In his homily, Bishop Simiao narrated the story of a hunter and deer to highlight the consequences of greed and excessive consumption. The deer, while hiding under a tree from a hunter, gradually ate the leaves concealing it, eventually exposing itself to danger.
Drawing a parallel with humanity’s treatment of nature, the Bishop warned against excessive environmental exploitation, saying people risk destroying the natural systems that sustain and protect life.
As part of the offertory, water collected from the Khandepar and Durbhat rivers, wells, lakes and other water bodies across Ponda Parish was presented at the altar, symbolising the “Living Waters” theme and the community’s commitment to protecting its water resources.
Concelebrating were Fr Anthony Carvalho, representing the DCE, Fr Francis Rozario OFM, Parish Priest of St Anne’s Church, Fr Carlos Dias OFM, Chaplain of Mount Carmel Chapel, and Fr Hemant OFM and Fr Anil OFM.
The programme also featured the soft opening of a coconut exhibition ahead of World Coconut Day, showcasing the tree’s many uses. Catechetical children presented “Best out of Waste” exhibits linking faith formation with ecological awareness.
Bishop Simiao later inaugurated the church hall, which will host programmes, exhibitions, training and ecological activities during the Season of Creation and the 8th Centenary celebrations. He also handed over the Season of Creation theme flag to Fr Francis Rozario OFM.
The official website of St Anne’s Church’s 8th Centenary Celebration was also inaugurated.
The parish’s ecological programme will continue until October 4, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, with prayer, reflection, education, exhibitions and community-based ecological action.
The 2026 observance is being organised with the DCE as part of St Anne’s 8th Centenary Celebration of the Transitus of St Francis of Assisi (1226–2026).
