The parishioners of Ponda are all set to celebrate the Feast of St. Anne on July 27, a solemn and joyous occasion honoring the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. The celebrations, deeply rooted in faith and tradition, pay tribute not only to St. Anne but also to her husband Joachim, both revered as the grandparents of Jesus and significant figures in the Christian faith.
St. Anne is venerated as the patron saint of mothers, women in labor, and minors. The feast serves as a time for families to reflect on the virtues of motherhood, the value of grandparents, and the strength of familial faith.
The novenas in preparation for the feast began on July 18, 2025, and are being held with great fervor at the historic St Anne’s Church in Ponda. Founded in 1700, the church has been under the care of the Franciscan Fathers (Order of Friars Minor) since 1961, and continues to thrive under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Fr. Francis Rozario OFM.
This year, the novenas are being celebrated under the pastoral theme of Hope (Bhorvanso), with different preachers from across Goa drawing inspiration from the pastoral letter of the same name. Each day begins with traditional Goan devotions such as Ters, Ladainha, and Magnnem, invoking St. Anne's intercession and blessings.
St. Anne’s Parish also encompasses nine outstation chapels in the villages of Khandepar, Opa, Savoiverem, Durbhat, Bandora, Kharvaddo, Keriyem, and Agapur. Additionally, the Mount Carmel Chapel in Sadar Ponda, led by resident chaplain Rev. Fr. Carlos Dias OFM, is actively involved in the festivities.
One of the highlights of the celebration will be the Feast Day Mass at 9:30 AM on July 27, to be presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Fr. Simiao Fernandes. On July 26, the actual feast day of St. Anne and St. Joachim, children from the parish will honor their grandparents with songs, cards, and floral tributes, in a heartwarming tribute to family bonds. Catechism children will also perform a special group song dedicated to the love and value of grandparents.
Academic excellence will also be celebrated, as toppers of the SSCE and HSCE examinations from Ponda will be felicitated by the Church’s administrative body, Fabrica da Igreja de Ponda, under the leadership of the Parish Priest.
Mr. Custodio Dias, attorney of the Fabrica and choirmaster for over five decades, recalled the transformative role of the Franciscan Fathers in Ponda. "Since 1961, they have not only upheld a life of poverty and service but have fostered interfaith harmony in the region," he shared. As choirmaster, Mr. Dias has kept alive the church’s rich liturgical music tradition, including Ters and Ladainha dedicated to St. Anne.
The celebration is not limited to Goa. Parishioners originally from Ponda now living in the UK continue to uphold the legacy of this feast in Swindon, where they mark the occasion with traditional Goan devotions and festivities.
As the faithful raise their voices in prayer—“Sant Ana Mae Jezuche, Aje amchem pasot vinoti kor ani amkam kurpen bhor” (Saint Anne, Mother of Jesus, pray for us and bless us)—the Feast of St. Anne in Ponda continues to be a beacon of devotion, community spirit, and enduring faith.