Goa: In a unique celebration of Catechetical Sunday, lay catechists from across the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman participated in an innovative parish homestay programme, gaining first-hand experience of faith lived in families and Small Christian Communities (SCCs). The initiative emphasized that catechesis is not only about teaching doctrine but also about witnessing and sharing faith in everyday life.
A total of 205 catechists gathered at the Parish of Sts Cosme and Damian, Bogmalo, on January 31 for a two-day programme focused on prayer, fellowship, and experiential learning. The central feature of the event was an overnight homestay, where catechists stayed with parish families, immersing themselves in the rhythms of domestic Church life and the lived faith of local communities.
This year marked the 23rd Weekend Catechetical Sunday, an initiative first launched in 2004 at Siolim Parish under the guidance of Fr Alfred Vaz, former Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre. Over the years, the programme has grown into a platform where catechists experience firsthand the integration of faith, family, and community.
Upon arrival, catechists were assigned in pairs to host families within the parish SCCs. Nearly 100 volunteers prepared homes and communities to welcome the participants, creating an environment of hospitality and warmth. Through shared meals, prayer sessions, and informal interactions, catechists were able to witness faith as it is practiced, nurtured, and celebrated daily.
Fr Teo Fernandes, Parish Priest of Sts Cosme and Damian, formally welcomed the participants, highlighting the parish’s commitment to nurturing youth and adult catechists. Fr Marcelin Rodrigues, Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Centre, visited the SCCs during the homestay and told Catholic Connect that the programme is “totally biblical and rooted in the identity of the early Christians,” noting its focus on prayer, the breaking of the Bread, apostolic teaching, and fellowship.
Mutual prayer and reflection formed the heart of the experience. Catechists participated in the Eucharistic celebration and listened attentively to the homily and address of Bishop Simião Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, who encouraged participants to see catechesis as a lived, relational journey of faith.
Participants shared heartfelt reflections on their homestay experiences. Roque Fernandes from St. Sebastian Church, Calvim, observed how catechesis comes alive through love, family unity, and daily Christian witness. Maria Estrocio of Mount Carmel Chapel, Curtorim, noted that simple acts of love, sincere prayer, and genuine hospitality transformed strangers into family.
Natalia Fernandes of St. Joseph Church, Pernem, recounted initial anxiety about staying with an unfamiliar family, which soon gave way to a profound awareness of God’s presence through shared meals, prayer, and fellowship.
Host families also reflected on the richness of the encounter. Ulysses Menezes of Bogmalo, who hosted two catechists, described moments of shared prayer, Rosary recitation, and faith-filled conversations as strengthening bonds within the parish and reminding him that opening one’s home is also opening a space for Christ and the Church.
The parish homestay initiative reaffirmed the vision of catechesis as a shared journey, nurtured through community life, prayer, and witness in everyday living. By experiencing the faith of families and SCCs up close, catechists returned with a renewed understanding of how the Gospel is lived, celebrated, and passed on, embodying a model of faith in action that goes beyond the classroom.
This programme not only enriched the spiritual lives of the catechists but also strengthened the parish community, underscoring that faith grows most profoundly when it is experienced, shared, and lived in community.