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Sangath, www.sangath.com, is looking to build a centre for services, training and research and seeks to buy approx 1500 to 2000 sq mtrs land betweeen Mapusa and Bambolim and surrounding rural areas. Please contact: [email protected] or [email protected] or ph+91-9881499458 http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2009-July/180028.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Photo Link* * * * http://picasaweb.google.co.in/neshgotright/GoaDistrictServantsConference2009# * Couples for Christ India (CFCI) organised its Goa District Servants’ Conference 2009 at Taleigao Community Hall on July 26. Based on the theme ‘Behold the Glory of God’, an excerpt from the Bible, the conference attracted over 1000 delegates from the community of CFCI from various parishes of Goa, besides guests from Patna, Nashik, Mumbai, Pune, Sindhudurg, Belgaum, Karwar and Mangalore. Formerly known as a Leaders’ Conference, this year the nomenclature was changed to reflect the reality that true leaders, in imitation of Jesus Christ, always present themselves as servants of God and servants of God’s people. The conference began with the singing of the National Anthem followed by the area-wise presentation of the delegates after which Caetano Filipe Colaco, the Event Head formally declared the Conference open. Anthony Pereira from Sada, a pastoral worker and presently serving as CFCI District Servant for the diocese of Belgaum then led the gathering in a spirited time of worship. The theme of the conference unfolded in the three plenary sessions. Graziella Gonsalves from Margao introduced the first theme of “Longing for God” through a very uplifting shadow dance. Abigail Ferrao, a former pastoral worker with CFCI tells us that, “it was the shadow dance and the Caranzalem Youth Music Ministry that made me realize there is so much of our talent that we can use to serve God and humanity.” Savio Kenny, CFCI District Servant for the Diocese of Goa & Daman, a former superintendent with Damodar College, Margao, then elaborated on how, the longing for God, the seeking of Him and the spending time with Him eventually leads to the transformation of the individual person to become the presence of God in society. Elvis Coutinho, CFCI Cluster Servant for the Deanery of Benaulim then led the participants into a time of adoration. The CFCI Handmaids of the Lord from the CFCI chapters of Caranzalem, St. Inez and Panaji performed an exquisitely touching dance set to the song; Embrace the Cross, to introduce the second session. CFCI Country Servant, Tony Correia dwelt on the challenge of embracing one’s cross as we go about our task of serving God’s people. Besides the usual cross of persecution, which every Christian must accept as his or her inheritance, he spoke on the cross of brotherhood and the cross of self-denial. He urged the leaders to learn to bear with the inadequacies of their brothers and sisters while at the same time practicing the discipline of self-denial. A video presentation “Lead me to the Cross” brought the session to an end. The Eucharistic Sacrifice was then celebrated with Fr Nelson Sequeira, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman as the presidential celebrant and Fr. Aquilo Gomes, Parish Priest of Taleigao concelebrating. Fr. Nelson, who delivered the homily, drawing from the parable of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, exhorted the congregation to offer whatever little they have by way of talents or gifts to the Lord so that He might do His mighty work in them. Towards the end of the Mass, Eliza Dias, CFCI Taleigao chapter servant, led the congregation in an act of consecration to Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. After a quick lunch, the music ministry got back into action with some lively gospel music in Konkani, Hindi and English. It was then the turn of the father-son duo of Chris and Carlton to wake up the delegates with some energizing action songs. In this, they were assisted by a group of youth from the Porvorim Chapter. The final session of the day was by given by Ana Menezes from Margao. Menezes who heads the Prophetic Ministry of the Community dwelt on the theme “Yielding to the Spirit” applying it specifically to the manner in which community members grieve the Holy Spirit by their speech and behavior patterns that break unity. Using the analogy of a glass of drinking water, she explained that the glass must neither be dirty (with bitterness, anger, rage, slander, gossip, brawling), nor cracked (broken through hurts and pains that need healing). And finally, the glass that we offer to our neighbor must be filled with water – living water generated by the Holy Spirit. The session came to an end with Constantino D’Sa, Chapter Servant, CFCI Caranzalem, leading the gathering into a time of repentance, surrender to the Spirit of God and joyful praise and dancing. If the organizing team led by Caetano Filipe Colaco was responsible for support services for the event, it was Blossom Rodrigues, the program director, and her band of young volunteers and pastoral workers, that included graduates and engineers who chose to engage in pastoral work rather than a career in the lucrative corporate world, that worked behind the scenes to ensure that the event was a roaring success. --EOM-- * * * * * * *-- * *“Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."* *(Luke 18: 16-17)* -- Freelance Journalist portraying Education, Culture, Festivals and Interviews with Goan Heroes Also into Photo Journalism
