TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The Church’s role in the neighbourhood was the theme of the second day of the Convention of the Small Christian Communities (SCC) being held in the State. The SCC convention that started off with the 7000 delegates converging at the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa on Tuesday, moved to parishes around the State on the second day. Delegates and locals were given an insight into the functioning and relevance of SCCs to society.
The 75 bishops that are part of the convention were assigned to 25 deaneries around the State. The deaneries are situated in Aldona, Bicholim, Candolim, Saligao, Mapusa, Pernem, Siolim, Goa Velha, Old Goa, Santa Cruz, Ponda, Carmona, Colva, Benaulim, Agonda, Chinchinim, Cuncolim, Velim, Chandor, Rachol, Sanguem, Margao, Cortalim, Utorda and Verna.
The underlying message that each of the parishes delivered to those attending the convention was to visualize a role for the Church within the neighbourhood.
Tuesday’s event saw not only delegates of the convention but locals from parishes all over the State attend the day long events that began with a short procession followed by mass celebrated by the bishops attending the convention.
At the St John the Baptist Church, Benaulim, Rev Varghese Chakalackal from Calicut celebrated the mass with Bishops from Darjeeling and Miao.
Delegate Fr Tharsions, from the Uttar Pradesh diocese, who was visiting the Benaulim Deanery, said the convention was a good platform to share experiences. “This convention has been a wonderful experience. In the parish that I come from, there is a struggle to form SCCs like they have here in Goa and places like Mumbai. The sharing of experiences here has given me some ideas on how to create more SCCs in my parish,” he said.
The evening session included national delegates visiting and interacting with the local wards and SCCs including old age homes and orphanages where a gospel sharing session was also held.
