The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman in southwest India marked Divine Mercy Sunday with a solemn Eucharistic celebration on April 12 at St. John the Baptist Church in Pilerne, north Goa, drawing the faithful into a deeper reflection on God’s mercy and the call to live it daily.
The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, with Fr. Ashley Alphonso, president of the Divine Mercy Movement; Fr. Donato Rodrigues, rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol; and Fr. Derick Fernandes, parish priest, among the concelebrants.
In his homily, Cardinal Ferrão called on the faithful to become instruments of mercy and forgiveness in today’s world. He reminded them that Christ enters human lives at all times and that believers must remain open to His presence. Drawing from the example of the early Church, he noted how the first Christians remained faithful to the apostles’ teaching and to prayer, enabling them to live lives rooted in mercy.
“God, through His Son Jesus, reveals to us the face of mercy,” the Cardinal said, urging the faithful to imitate Christ by forgiving others. He emphasized that while God’s mercy is constant, it is often human hearts that remain closed, and encouraged regular prayer and reflection, especially on the call to forgive as expressed in the Lord’s Prayer.
Cardinal Ferrão also invited the faithful to let their devotion to Divine Mercy bear fruit in everyday life, becoming messengers of peace, reconciliation, and compassion.
Following the Mass, Fr. Ashley Alphonso expressed gratitude to the Archbishop and organizers, while Fr. Donato Rodrigues addressed members of Divine Mercy groups from different parishes. Lay participants also shared testimonies of their pastoral and spiritual involvement, highlighting the impact of the movement in their communities.
A group discussion, facilitated by Fr. Macson Fernandes, executive secretary, along with seminarians, focused on sharing God’s mercy, strengthening parish-based groups, and deepening personal faith. The program was anchored by seminarian Kennedy Mascarenhas.
As part of the celebration, Cardinal Ferrão formally released the definitively approved guidelines of the Divine Mercy Movement. The guidelines, first provisionally approved in 2022, provide a structured framework for the movement’s pastoral and spiritual activities.
The Divine Mercy Movement, launched in 2017 in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, has grown significantly, with 138 parish groups established across the region. Initially animated by the Carmelites, its leadership was entrusted to the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol in 2023.
The celebration not only reaffirmed the central message of Divine Mercy but also highlighted the continued growth of the movement, encouraging the faithful to live out mercy authentically in their daily lives.
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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