By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Panaji, March 10, 2025: More than 28,000 Catholics from 167 parishes joined this year’s walking pilgrimage organized by the archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
The annual Lenten program with the theme, “As Pilgrims of Hope, let us Proclaim the Good News,” began at 2 am on March 9 from five designated centers of the 19 deaneries. It ended at Our Lady of Good Health Church, Sancoale, some 25 km south of Panaji, the capital of Goa.
After an hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman, concelebrated Mass at 6 am at the façade of the church. He was assisted by Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Purificacao Fernandes and several priests.
The pilgrimage that began in 2019 engages the entire archdiocese, which was once the main center of the Catholic Church in Asia.
In his introduction to the Mass Cardinal Ferrao urged the faithful “to be generous towards those in need in this Jubilee Year.”
He invited them to take inspiration from Jesus Christ who, “Despite all trials and tribulations remained faithful; to His mission of saving us from the slavery of sin and death and offered us new life and hope.”
The cardinal urged the gathering to renew their lives and become beacons of hope and faith for others.
Bishop Fernandes, in his homily, exhorted the pilgrims “to embrace the Word of God as a source of strength in overcoming life’s challenges and temptations.”
The bishop stressed the importance of self-reflection, community outreach, and spreading hope as central to the Lenten pilgrimage.
Touching upon the Lenten message of Pope Francis, Bishop Fernandes said, “We are called to journey with hope with ourselves, and with others. Let us journey within ourselves to renew our lives with good moral values. It is necessary to accept those on the periphery as they are, in order to journey with them in hope.”
Father George Ratos, convener of the committee that organized the program, said, “Each of the centers featured a cross, inviting the faithful to begin their walk with prayer and to reflect on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice along the way.”
Scenes depicting the Passion of Christ were placed along the route interspersed with spiritual quotes, to remind the participants to focus on Christ. Some scenes were presented at the main venue, to help the faithful reflect on Christ’s Journey, Father Ratos said.
“The aim is to encourage the pilgrims to reflect, maintain silence, and spend some quiet time with Jesus,” he told Matters India.
The pilgrimage is organized on the first Sunday of Lent to help Catholics understand the value of suffering, spread the joy of being Christian, seek grace in difficulties, and encourage personal conversion, said Father Leo Fernandes, executive secretary of Archdiocesan Pastoral Secretariat.
The pilgrimage ends at Sancoale, the birthplace of St Joseph Vaz, who walked in Sri Lanka sharing Christ’s message with the less fortunate.
Yvonne Ribeiro, a professor and mother of three, said she was reluctant to attend the walking pilgrimage first as it amused her. Her parish priest, Father Leonardo Pagado encouraged and her daughter to try it once.
“In this Jubilee Year, I walked the pilgrimage a third time in the stillness of the morning. As we walked, we prayed, sang hymns, helped one another, shared experiences,” she told Matters India.
She had a strong encounter with the Lord at the Adoration. “My faith is strengthened as I saw numerous young volunteers along the way serving with a smile.”