Team Herald
PANJIM: Archbishop-Patriarch of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrão, on Friday exhorted seven newly-ordained diocesan priests to focus on prayer, the Word of God and service in their daily lives, as they embark on their mission of ministerial priesthood.
He was delivering his homily during the ordination ceremony of Fr Agustin Alfonso, Fr Joism de Souza, Fr Walter D’Souza, Fr William D’Souza, Fr Reagan Fernandes, Fr Joseph Gama and Fr Vaizel Pereira at the Se Cathedral, Old Goa.
The occasion also marked the felicitation of two priests, Fr Urbano Fernandes and Fr Cleto Pereira, who celebrated their golden sacerdotal jubilees and five priests, Fr Filipe Neri Dias, Fr Simiao Fernandes, Fr Polly Lobo, Fr Sebastiao Nazareth and Fr Eusico Pereira, who celebrated their silver sacerdotal jubilees.
“We are in the Easter season. Jesus suffered, died and rose again. For this reason, we are joyful. Another reason to be joyful is that we have seven young men who are saying ‘yes’ to the Lord. The Risen Jesus, long back, called them in their families and today, after much preparation, these seven brothers received this ministerial priesthood,” Archbishop Ferrão said.
He urged the newly ordained priests to pay attention to three aspects in their daily lives. He highlighted the importance of prayer as the first aspect, which included personal prayer to grow in Jesus, community prayer and prayer of the Church.
Archbishop Ferrão also advised them to focus on the second aspect of ‘Word of God’, to read it faithfully, to teach others what has been read and to practice what they have taught to others.
“Thus, be not only messengers of God’s Word, but be the very message of God’s Word. This could be attained by teaching catechism, preaching the Word of God, conducting faith formation activities, visiting families, having inter-religious dialogue.”
