Goa Archdiocese observes Prison Ministry

MARGAO, AUG 8
The Goa Archdiocese observed the Prison Ministry by celebrating the day with a concelebrated Mass by the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao at the Holy Spirit Church here on Sunday.
The Archbishop gave a call to actively support and join the army of volunteers that are selflessly working through the Prison Ministry of Goa for the regeneration and rehabilitation of the prisoners in the state.
In the homily, Fr Maverick Fernandes said “we are all prisoners of our mind and that through our attitude we have created this change and we have discriminated people and kept them away and showed less concerns to certain types of people in our society. It is easy for us to condemn the people who have been in prison and label them, but we fail to condemn our own irresponsibility towards them. Our attitude and prayer support can make the world a difference to our brethen as many of them are wrongly accused and some are victims of circumstances”.
Fr Fernandes called the laity to bring about a change and awareness in the world through the inspiration of Jesus Christ.
Later speaking at the gathering Sr Mary Jane, coordinator of Prison Ministry gave a detailed report of the work, activities and programmes made available for prisoners. The volunteers of the Ministry spend time listening to the prison inmates and helped them inculcate in them values of repentance and forgiveness, undertake counselling etc.
ex-prisoner, Rajesh Kumar, now working for HIV positive people in Goa also gave his testimony about his life.
Fr Valeriano Vaz, Director of Prison Ministry, while proposing the vote of thanks, appreciated the good work done by the volunteers and called on more people to join the Prison Ministry in Goa.