By Molly Fernandes

Macasana, Nov 22, 2021: The Holy Family Sisters organized an outreach program in a Goan village as part to their attempts to recruit new members.

St. Francis Xavier Church of Macasana village in South Goa on November 21 invited the nuns to a program organized by the local youth. The day began with the sharing of vocation stories by Sister Valetina Vaz, the congregation’s vocation promoter and her assistant Sister Samantha Gonsalves at two Masses.

After the Mass, Sisters Vaz and Gonsalves visited families of parishioners living close to the church.

“The people were eagerly waiting for us as they were informed about our visits. We received cordial welcome in spite of the fear of pandemic. We could visit three wards where we listened to the people and encouraged and prayed for them,” Sister Vaz told Matters India.

The second half of the day began with a talk by Sister Any Fernandes on discernment for the youth. She said discernment requires a person to pray and be in communion with God.

“That God speaks in subtle ways through events, accidents, persons and through the Word of God. That He speaks to your conscience and decisions made in this atmosphere results in self-contentment and inner Joy,” she explained.

Holy Family Sisters address parish youth
Speaking about her vocation, she said her father, who worked on a ship, had refused to give her permission to become a nun, saying he had different plans for her.

But while on the ship his right thumb suddenly had a big thorn which could not be removed after medication and had to be amputated. The night prior to the operation he asked forgiveness from God for going against his daughter’s decision. When he went next morning to the clinic, the doctor held his finger for amputation but the big thorn had come out.

“My father believed that God had allowed this to happen to realize his mistake and God’s plans were superior to his. When he returned he came to meet me and asked forgiveness. I was afraid to meet him as I had joined the convent in his absence,” she narrated.

The nuns staged a “musical opera” on the life of their founder Father Faustino De Souza and a prayer dance. The artists were the members of the congregation, barring children and two women.

The nuns also enthralled the villagers with “fushion dance” using Goan traditional and Western music.