Teaching as Vocation: Catholic Educators Shaping Minds and Hearts in Goa

October 5th is observed worldwide as World Teachers’ Day, instituted by UNESCO in 1994 to honour the role of teachers in shaping society. In India, however, Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5th in memory of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1888–1975), the philosopher and Second President of India, who suggested that his birthday be dedicated to all teachers, a tradition that continues today.

For Catholics, the day carries a spiritual dimension. Teaching is not just a profession but a calling and a mission of service. In government, secular, or Catholic schools alike, teachers nurture values and shape both minds and hearts. Listening to Catholic teachers across contexts reveals a shared spirit of responsibility, sacrifice, and joy in forming young lives.

Sacred Calling of Love

“My Catholic identity is the cornerstone of my life, and no circumstance will ever shake my faith,” says Debhora Rumaldina Fernandes, the principal of a Government Higher Secondary School, Canacona, Goa. “Teaching has been my joy, my privilege, and my duty.”

For 34 years, she has lived this vocation with quiet conviction, seeing it not as a job but as “God’s divine plan.” Even when posted in remote areas, she welcomed each assignment as a blessing. Every child, regardless of religion or background, was embraced with love and care.

Her faith is lived more in deeds than in words, through kindness, empathy, and fairness. Each day begins with prayer, the rosary in hand on her long bus rides. Working in a secular environment, she sees challenges as opportunities to witness by example. “For me, it means treating every student, parent, and colleague with justice, kindness, and patience.”

To her, teachers are “the bridge between home and school, shaping what is absent in the family and nurturing what is lacking in the child.” Beyond academics, her mission has been to shape hearts, listening, affirming, and instilling hope in young people so they may rediscover their inner light.

Forming Hearts Through Faith and Integrity

“For me, being a lay teacher here means serving as a role model who encourages students to seek truth, awaken their inner potential, and strive to create a compassionate world,” said Veli Fernandes, a teacher at Our Lady of Snow’s High School, Raia, Goa. His teaching is rooted in Christ’s values of mercy, justice, and respect for every individual.

Faith, he believes, must flow into daily life in the classroom. “I try to live the Gospel through my teaching, whether in subject lessons, discussions, or simple interactions,” he explains. “Students learn more from how we live than from what we say.”

As a lay teacher, Veli brings something distinctive to Catholic education. By reaching out to first-generation learners, nurturing talents, and ensuring equal opportunities, he helps create a school environment where every student feels valued. “Teaching is not just about academics. It’s about forming character, opening hearts, and preparing students to be people of faith, compassion, and responsibility.”

A Classroom Becomes a Sanctuary

For Sr. Justina Vaz, HC, a teacher at St. Joseph’s High School, Aquem, Goa, teaching is a sacred calling, a response to God’s invitation to nurture young minds and hearts. Quoting St. John Bosco, “Education is a matter of the heart,” she sees her classroom as a small sanctuary where seeds of faith are sown and the Gospel is lived in action.

Sr. Justina, of the Handmaids of Christ, Goa, is also a General Councilor of her Congregation. Her vocation finds its deepest expression in the classroom. “I encourage them to respect diversity, practice honesty, show gratitude, and build resilience. My aim is to help them grow with integrity and empathy.”

Modern education, technology’s distractions, and diminishing respect for teachers often weigh heavily. “Balancing these pressures while keeping faith alive is demanding,” she admits. Yet her greatest joy comes in small miracles, when a struggling student blossoms or a child finds comfort and direction.

For Sr. Justina, being a nun and a teacher is one inseparable mission: to live the Gospel through the humble yet transformative work of education.

A Shepherd in the Classroom

“My priestly ministry and my mission as a teacher are deeply interconnected, as both flow from the call of Jesus Christ to serve, guide and shepherd His people,” says Fr. Agnelo Fernandes, teacher at St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School in Mapusa, Goa.

For him, the altar and the classroom are not separate worlds. At the altar, he breaks the Bread of Life, and in the classroom, he breaks open the bread of knowledge and wisdom.

This priest sees his vocation as more than imparting academic lessons, it is about being a living witness of faith, hope, and love. “Students are searching for role models who embody meaning and integrity,” he observes. His presence as a priest allows him to provide knowledge as well as spiritual guidance, sacraments, and opportunities for prayer and reflection. His vision is to form not only competent learners but also “responsible, faith-filled and value-driven human beings.

Faith in Action, Culture in Harmony

“With 20 years of service in three different government schools, my Catholic faith has always been my guiding strength,” says Felicia D’Souza, Catholic headmistress at a Government Primary School, Mandrem, in North Goa.

For her, faith is not confined to church walls—it shapes the way she treats every child with dignity, patience, and love. “As a head teacher, I never carry myself with authority, but rather with humility and friendliness,” she explains. By knowing the struggles of children and extending support to parents, she has built bonds of trust. At the same time, she embraces the culture of the community. “I am aware of their festivals, and I give them importance in school activities.”

Challenges have not been absent. Parents once questioned whether a Catholic teacher could teach Marathi or understand their culture. Over time, her fluency in Marathi, active involvement in festivals, and commitment to children transformed doubts into confidence.

Living in a majority environment, she overcomes barriers by practicing universal values, truth, fairness, kindness, and service. “My friendly nature and willingness to support children who are weak in studies or struggling financially builds respect and trust,” she shares. For her, education is holistic. “I believe no child should be left behind.”