Team Herald
PANJIM: The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman solemnly inaugurated the Jubilee Year 2025 at the Diocesan and Parish levels on Sunday through a special celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Old Goa.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The solemn opening of the Jubilee 2025, was celebrated by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão at Old Goa along with Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes and other priests and lay faithful. The Eucharist was preceded by a short preparatory service at 3 pm explaining the importance of Jubilee and explaining the Logo, marking a meaningful start to this significant journey.
In His homily Auxiliary Bishop Fernandes invited the people to be pilgrims of hope while being in Union with Christ and specially to strive to make our families full of hope and Love for each other.
A special Jubilee Cross was blessed and will be kept at Se Cathedral Old Goa. Jubilee is also a time for penance and renewal of once life. It is also a time when one can gain indulgence. In the Catholic Church, an indulgence is the remission of punishment caused by sin.
In his address, the Archbishop wished that this jubilee year may be fruitful for our families, for our Small Christian Communities, for our Parishes and our society.
In the Archdiocese, one can gain indulgence during the jubilee year either by entering the doors of one of the three Parishes, which are St Jerome’s Church, Mapusa, Se Cathedral, Old Goa and Holy Spirit Church, Margao, oOr one can visit pious places like St Christopher’s Church, Tivim, St Anthony’s Church, Siolim, Bom Jesus Basilica, Old Goa, Holy Cross Shrine, Bambolim, Monastery, Pilar, Old Church, Sancoale and St Anthony’s Chapel, Deussua. Or by doing acts of Mercy.
Later, Fr Leo Fernandes gave a vote of thanks.
jubilee celebrations at siolim
Meanwhile in Siolim, the celebration of the ordinary jubilee year of Redemption as announced by Pope Francis was inaugurated at the St Anthony Church Siolim on Sunday, on the occasion of the feast of their patroness Our Lady of Guide.
A special big size crucifix was blessed and installed by the Parish Priest Dr (Fr) Socorro Mendes. Many churches in Goa will take part in these jubilee year celebrations by being kept open for the full day for personal prayer and reflection. The churches will be open for the full day all throughout the year, however some churches it is learnt for security reasons will be kept semi open.
While in Rome the celebrations had already begun, in the Archdiocese of Goa different churches have chosen a suitable date for them to start with the celebrations.
