On Saturday night, Easter vigil services in churches and chapels ushered in Easter across the state. The Easter fire, lighting of the Paschal candle and readings from the Holy Bible were the highlights of the vigils. Other important features were the blessing of the water of the baptismal font and renewal of baptismal vows by the faithful.
This year, the Easter vigil services were live streamed in many parishes and local TV channels, including GCTV and Gomantak TV.
The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Filip Neri Ferrao presided over the services at Se Cathedral, in Old Goa.
Easter message of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Filip Neri Ferrao
“Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar worldwide,” said Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao in his Easter message.
“It celebrates Jesus Christ's victory over suffering, death and sin. It is a celebration of joy, of freedom from the slavery of sin and of hope for a New Life. Easter invites us to make this joy infectious by extending our hands to all people of goodwill and work together for peace, harmony and mutual respect among men and women of different social, cultural and religious traditions and by overcoming divisive forces that seem to be active even in our own state,” he added. “May Easter inspire us to live as responsible citizens in our country and state, working towards genuine human development and integral sustainable advancement.”
