CHRISTIAN VALUES AT RACHOL SEMINARY

In view of its Fourth Centenary Celebration and keeping in mind the Year dedicated to Blessed Joseph Vaz with focus on Christian Values, Rachol Seminary organized a Bible Course for lay faithful on the topic ‘Parables of Jesus and Christian Values’ for three consecutive Sundays. Around 180 members of the lay faithful actively participated in the Course.

The Course began with a meaningful ceremony of the Enthronement of the Word which conveyed a powerful message on the importance and relevance of the Word of God, which is a light to our path. Thought-provoking and Enlightening inputs were given by Frs. Simiao Fernandes, Polly Lobo and Seminarians Marcelino Rodrigues, Elvis Dias and Leo Fernandes. The use of videos, power-point programs, enactment of the parables, posters, life-situations, etc. contributed to the deepening of the knowledge of the Gospel Parables and made it easy for the participants to draw out Christian Values from the same. The meaning, purpose and importance of the parables was rightly highlighted.

The participants were also given a Hermeneutical Key to interpret the parable, keeping in mind the text and the context of the Biblical times. Six parables viz. the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Parable of the Good Samaritan, Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus and Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican were approached from various angles by the resource team and were studied in depth with an interactive methodology. Lot of doubts were cleared with concise and precise answers to the questions raised by the participants. The organizational and the managerial skills as well as the creativity of the young seminarians during the course was highly appreciated. The action songs and various fillers on Biblical themes added color to the seminar. On the last day, the participants were given Certificates of Appreciation at the end of the Solemn Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Rector, Rev. Fr. Dennis Fernandes. The program was coordinated by Fr. Simiao Fernandes, Sem. Dyrel Dias, Sem. Christopher Fernandes along with the students of Philosophy. Ms Linda, one of the participants proposed a Vote of Thanks on behalf of the participants and expressed much joy for being part of these inspirational seminars. She was highly appreciative of the efforts put in by the resource team and the wholehearted collaboration and dedication of the young seminarians. She also expressed her desire that seminars of such quality should be organized all over Goa so that the lay faithful may get an opportunity to imbibe Christian Values. The participants went home with renewed vigor to work for the promotion of the Word of God with a desire to have more of such seminars that help to form Christian lives with treasures that last.

Participants Evaluate:

“On the whole I gained so much from the Word of God; I congratulate the Seminary for such a wonderful seminar on ‘Parables and Christian Values’”

“The Seminar was well-organized; the creativity and preparation was marvelous; the fathers and seminarians worked as one family”

“The way you all expressed yourselves was very good; the message was down to earth”

“All the sessions were good and effective; many hidden truths were unleashed; we learnt to interpret the parables; the sessions have definitely added to my spiritual richness”

‘It is by your teaching we got to understand what a parable is; it will help us to give the message on Christian values to others around us”

“The seminar was very fruitful; we wish such motivating and relevant seminars be organized often and if possible all over Goa”

‘This bible course has made me grow spiritually; the parables were well-explained in pictorial manner”

“The sessions were well planned and the given time was maintained; everyone’s collaboration made things more beautiful; what an experience!”

“The Bible course was an eye-opener; it was very fruitful and practical”

‘The budding seminarians were awesome; they deserve a pat on their shoulder on account of their good work for the Lord”.