India: Pilar Seminary in Goa Hosts Ecumenical Fellowship Celebrating Christian Unity

The All India Mission Seminary of the Society of Pilar, Goa, south west India, hosted an Ecumenical Fellowship on January 25, 2026, marking the culmination of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The event was held under the theme: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4).

The fellowship brought together representatives from a diverse range of Christian denominations, including St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, St. Thomas Marthoma Syrian Church, the Methodist Church, Brethren Assembly, Rupantaran Fellowship Church, Tangkhul Baptist Church, and North-East Baptist Church, reflecting a shared commitment to unity in Christ.

Opening the evening, Rev. Fr. Norman Almeida, the Rector of the All India Mission Seminary welcomed participants, emphasizing the importance of fellowship and unity within the church, calling on Christians to bridge differences and grow together in faith.

The program featured a rich tapestry of spiritual expressions. Members of the Rupantaran Fellowship Church performed a devotional dance, setting a reflective tone for collective prayer. Gospel choirs from the Tangkhul and North-East Baptist Churches lifted hearts through inspiring songs, while hymns and prayers led by various church choirs created an atmosphere of joy and shared devotion.

Reflections on Scripture were offered by Dr. James Samuel of the Brethren Assembly, who highlighted the beauty of unity amid diversity: “We have all become members through faith in the Lord Jesus. We have different traditions and a diverse heritage; yet we have one Lord, one faith, and one hope of Christ’s return. Unity does not necessitate uniformity, or even unanimity.”

Voicing the communal spirit of the gathering, Mathew Samuel, IAS (retd) of the St. Thomas Marthoma Syrian Church in Santa Cruz, Goa, said, “It is very important and necessary for Christians in India to be united and stand up for each other, regardless of denomination, language, or ethnicity. Unity in diversity was the foundational norm of the Indian Republic, and it is ours too.”

Prayers of the Faithful led by the St. Thomas Marthoma Syrian Church further reinforced the shared devotion of the attendees. The evening concluded with a closing prayer by Rev. Pradeep Kumar of the Panjim Methodist Church, who said, “Moments of prayer, heartfelt sharing, and sincere fellowship broke down walls and healed divisions, allowing us to see one another not as separate groups but as brothers and sisters united in Christ.” The final hymn, led by St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church, was a moving end to the spiritual gathering.

Participants described the fellowship as a blessed and inspiring experience, a sentiment echoed by Dr. Ida Mukherjee of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Talegao, Goa, who said, “It was an evening where members of various churches prayed, sang, and shared together to glorify God Almighty, our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The event concluded with a Fellowship Meal, allowing attendees to continue nurturing relationships and celebrating their shared faith in Christ.