On June 7, 2026, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão of Goa and Daman in western India, together with Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes and representatives of diocesan bodies, released the Pastoral Letter for the 2026–2027 pastoral year titled “Abide in Me” (Jn 15:4). The document addresses priests, religious, lay faithful, and people of goodwill across the coastal archdiocese of Goa and Daman, India, urging a renewed focus on Jesus Christ amid rising secular pressures.
The letter framed Christian life as a sustained relationship with Christ rather than external observance. Cardinal Ferrão explained the Johannine term menō as “to remain, dwell, and stay in a living communion,” stressing that faith must be rooted in ongoing discipleship.
Reflecting on contemporary life in Goa, a region known for its Catholic heritage shaped by centuries of Portuguese presence, the Cardinal noted rapid urban development, tourism-driven change, migration, and increasing consumerism. He also highlighted digital distractions, weakening family bonds, and reduced space for interior silence, warning that daily life risks becoming “full of activity, yet empty of God.”
The pastoral text is structured around three themes: Scripture, formation in faith, and liturgical life. Quoting the Second Vatican Council’s Dei Verbum, Cardinal Ferrão recalled that Scripture is a living encounter with God. He urges believers to reassess priorities in light of Christ’s question on gaining the world at the cost of one’s life.
He emphasized that faith must continue beyond sacramental milestones through ongoing formation and conversion. The family is identified as the primary setting of faith transmission. Parents are encouraged to lead prayer at home, read Scripture with children, and participate in Sunday Eucharist. The Cardinal also acknowledged grandparents for their role in passing on prayers and biblical memory within households.
Catechists and religion teachers are commended for their service, with a reminder that Church teaching must be communicated fully and faithfully. The letter also stressed renewal of liturgical life, calling for active participation of the laity in ministries such as lectors, choirs, and liturgical coordination.
Cardinal Ferrão encouraged the observance of liturgical seasons through practices such as Advent wreaths, Christmas cribs, and the Way of the Cross. He also commended the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy in Goa for supporting liturgical formation and reverent worship across parishes.
In his conclusion, the Cardinal invited the faithful to deepen their relationship with Christ during the pastoral year. Entrusting the archdiocese to Mary and invoking St. Joseph Vaz, he presented the letter as a guide for spiritual renewal in Western India and beyond, especially addressing contemporary challenges faced by Catholics in South and Southeast Asia in today’s region.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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