Cardinal Ferrão Calls for Service to Church, Humanity and Creation

Ponda, Goa, October 4, 2026: Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão of Goa and Daman has called on Christians to live their baptismal vocation through service to the Church, humanity and creation, drawing on the witness of St Francis of Assisi.

He was delivering homily at a Eucharistic celebration at St. Anne’s Church, Ponda, marking the 800th anniversary of the Transitus of St. Francis, who died in 1226.

Presiding over the Eucharist, Cardinal Ferrão said holiness is the vocation of every baptised Christian, reflecting on St. Paul’s teaching that believers are chosen in Christ to be holy and blameless. He recalled the words attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta that holiness is not a privilege reserved for a few.

The Cardinal presented St. Francis as a model of how holiness can be expressed through love, humility, simplicity and concrete service. He identified three major dimensions of the saint’s witness: service to the Church, care for humanity and responsibility towards creation.

Recalling Francis’ response to Christ’s call to “repair my house”, Cardinal Ferrão highlighted his concern for the poor, lepers and people on the margins, as well as his commitment to proclaiming the Gospel. He urged Christians to extend similar care to the vulnerable, lonely and suffering in their families and communities.

The Cardinal also stressed Francis’ recognition of the dignity of every person. By regarding people as brothers and sisters irrespective of caste, creed or religion, Francis became a witness to peace, he said, calling Christians to become “apostles of peace” in India.

On environmental responsibility, Cardinal Ferrão referred to Francis’ intimate relationship with nature, reflected in his imagery of the sun as brother and the moon as sister. He urged Christians to protect creation rather than treat it as a “dust-bin”, stressing the need to care for trees, mountains and the natural environment.

Five Masses were celebrated during the day in Konkani, English, Hindi and Malayalam.

During the celebrations, Cardinal Ferrão released The Seeds He Sowed, a book by Dr. Kennedy Da Silva on the late Fr. Bolmax Pereira, former Convenor of the Diocesan Commission for Ecology.

The Diocesan Commission for Ecology formally handed over the Season of Creation celebrations to Ponda, following Tilamola’s hosting of the celebrations in 2025–26. Cardinal Ferrão presented the Season of Creation shield to Fr. Francis Rosario OFM.

Certificates were distributed to winners and participants of the “Franciscan Green Home” competition, while those involved in organising the celebrations were felicitated.

Fr. Francis Rosario OFM proposed the vote of thanks.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD