Team Herald
PANJIM: A delegation of all Goa pastors on Friday met His Emminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão in a bid to promote unity among Christians in the State.
The delegation was headed by Pastor Philip Vaz and comprised Altino Gomes, Allan D’Souza, Madan Delia, Stephen Mendes and Adv Vikas Waghmare of Alliance Defending Freedom while Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes and Porvorim parish priest and Ecumenism in-charge Fr Caetano Fernandes were also present.
After meeting the Cardinal at the Bishop’s Palace, Altinho, Pastor Philip Vaz said, “The purpose of the meeting with Cardinal Ferrao was to express our solidarity, love and understanding between all the Christian denominations in Goa. The meeting was held in a very warm, friendly and cordial manner. We all agreed to move together in the footsteps of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
“We believe that Jesus Christ unites all of us together no matter what our differences are. We are still united together. We discussed matters of the Christian community in Goa,” he said.
Pastor Vaz further said, “We are all part of the Protestant Church and we met priests of the Catholic Church to promote unity among religious organisations.”
CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Savio Fernandes said that the Pastors wanted to meet Cardinal Ferrao after his elevation.
“They discussed coming together and working together for Christian unity,” he said adding that the meeting lasted for about an hour.
