Coffee at Chicalim for His Eminence Cardinal Ferrao on arrival

Team Herald

DABOLIM:  The mood at Goa’s Dabolim International Airport, early Monday morning, was one of heightened jubilation and fervent exhilaration. Goa’s very own son, who had left the tarmac for Rome as Archbishop of Goa and Daman, landed back, elevated, as ‘His Eminence  Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao’

Filipe Neri António Sebastião do Rosário Cardinal Ferrão was elevated as Cardinal by Pope Francis along with 20 other cardinals in Rome, on August 27, 2022.

As the newly elevated Cardinal, the first since 465 years of the Church in Goa, stepped out of the arrival gate, a choir rendered sonorous melodies of welcome. The clergy, scores of the faithful and even politicians armed with bouquets, jostled with each other and bowed in greetings to the shepherd and kissed his hands, when they got the opportunity.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao himself exuded such joy on being back in Goa with his flock that he was could only smile. 

Vicar General Fr Jose Remedios said he had been with Filipe Neri Ferrao at his elevation as Cardinal and now he had come to welcome him at Dabolim. “It is a matter of great pride that an Indian and Goan Cardinal had been elevated by Pope Francis,” he said, summarising the mood of the entire gathering. Fr Jose is a companion of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao during his studies and was doubly excited to welcome him.

There was a surprise for Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao when he reached Chicalim. Parishioners had joined hands in an overnight candlelit vigil and waited till dawn for Cardinal Ferrao to arrive. Some parishioners even carried babies in their arms to seek blessings from the newly elevated Cardinal. A clearly touched Cardinal profusely thanked the Chicalim parishioners and remarked that they sacrificed their sleep. He then prayed and blessed the parishioners, their families, and especially the babies.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao even shared a cup of early morning coffee with Chicalim parishioners before he was chauffeur driven to the Bishop’s House at Altinho, Panjim.

The family of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao at Aldona, was exuberant at his elevation at the Consistory. Eighteen of them were present at the hallowed ceremony, which included his three brothers, who are all elder to him. Only his sister who is unwell in Mumbai could not go to Rome to witness the ceremony.

His eldest brother Octaviano Ferrao said, “For the family to be at the Consistory was a great experience to see my brother, elevated to the cardinalate. He has a big responsibility ahead. We pray for him that he will be able to perform and take the community to greater heights of faith.”

Marielou Ferrao, the niece of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao said her feelings are of “profound and overwhelming gratitude that the Holy Father and the Church acknowledged the great work of my uncle priest and bestowed the honour on the diocese of Goa.”

“The sacred simplicity of St Peter’s Basilica take one to a different level of holiness and it is there were realised how lucky we are as a family,” the niece said. She added that “if we are such a close knit family it is our uncle who is the unifying factor. We pray that Goa may give him many years to fulfil his mission,” she concluded.

The Goa Church which has the first Cardinal since its inception, will rally fervently in prayers behind Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao and wish him well to carry on the mission of Christ  and that of the evangelical Church.