The Works

| 2002 |

Goa archdiocese all set for Synod 2002 - 1

After a gap of almost 50 years, the Archdiocese of Goa is all set to hold its Diocesan Synod this month, the second of its kind in Goa since the inception of the archdiocese nearly five centuries ago.

Over 350 delegates from nearly 140 parishes in the archdiocese consisting of Goa, Daman, Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli will converge at Old Goa for the week-long Synod, which starts from February 17 at the Pastoral Institute.

With the first Synod being held in 1953, the second Synod now seeks to review all major beliefs and practices that are being followed by about 4 lakh Christians in Goa.

The possibility of having a second auxiliary bishop, a full-day school system for catholic schools, a separate TV channel, newspaper and website for the Church in Goa, and reviewing of processions during feasts and funerals are some aspects of Catholicism in Goa which will be discussed at the Synod.

Topics to be discussed revolve around lay faithful (family, youth, women and the poor), associations and movements, priests and seminarians, education, christian faith formation and mass media.

The inauguration of the Synod will take place with the celebration of Mass at Se Cathedral in Old Goa at 4 pm, followed by the inaugural session and keynote address by Archbishop Raul Gonsalves.

The week-long Synod will be in session from 7 am to 8 pm, to deliberate on four key issues each day.

“The aim of the Synod is in the renewal of the Church, `the New Society’, with an emphasis on the unity of humanity,” explained Fr Cristovao Caldeira, convenor of the Preparatory committee.

“Since religion is founded on structures, the Synod will focus on reviewing the different structures that constitute our religion,” Fr Caldeira added.

Following a call by Pope John Paul II to all archdioceses in the world to hold Synods in connection with the Jubilee Year 2000, the Goa Archdiocese decided to hold its Synod this year.

In fact, the first Synod to take place in India was in June 1599 at Diamper in Kerala, informed Fr Caldeira.

“The Synod this year differs from the Synod in 1953 in one important area. While the 1953 Synod was meant strictly for the clergy, the present Synod involves the participation of lay people as well,” explained Fr Caldeira.

“In fact, most of the 350 delegates at the Synod consist of lay people from each of the 150 parishes in Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli,” added Fr Caldeira.

To prepare the delegates for the Synod, a day-long preparatory seminar will be held in Panjim on February 3.

Work on the Synod began in 1999, when the Archdiocese finalised the theme ‘Pastoral care at the threshold of the third millennium’ for the Synod.

A year later, suggestions from priests, religious and lay people were compiled into topics and later presented as a Working Paper.

The third consultation was held in November last year, and the final Position Paper was prepared on January 25 this year.

“The Synod will deliberate on the suggestions of the Position Paper. Based on these discussions, a report will be forwarded to the Archbishop for approval,” explained Fr Caldeira.

Once approved, the report will be implemented by parishes and institutions in the archdiocese.

The budget for the entire Synod is expected to be about Rs 10 lakh.

“The funds for the preparation and celebration of the Synod have been generated through contributions from different parishes and institutions,” informed Fr Caldeira.

Three committees have been appointed to co-ordinate the entire Synod. While the Preparatory Committee, headed by Fr Caldeira, will plan and oversee the preparations, the Steering Committee, headed by Fr Aleixo Menezes and Fr Jose Remedios Fernandes, will co-ordinate the events during the Synod.

The Drafting Committee, headed by Fr Thomas Aquino Sequeira, will then document the various suggestions that emerge from the Synod.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the delegates participating in the Synod.

The delegates from remote areas of the archdiocese will be accommodated at Pilar, Old Goa and Panjim.

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