From the 1st of August 2024 till the 3rd of August 2024, the Rachol Seminary community celebrated the Triduum in honour of St. John Marie Vianney, the patron saint for all pastors. Each day the Triduum began with a prayer, followed by a sharing on the life and ministry of priests and concluded with a prayer.
On the first day of the triduum, Rev. Fr. Selwino Pereira, assistant to the parish priest of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim, shared his pastoral experience in the mission of Chizda (Daman). As a newly ordained priest Fr. Selwino was sent to the missions of Daman. He shared the challenges he encountered as a young priest and the manner he overcame them. He stressed on the importance of working under the guidance and collaboration of the parish priest for effective pastoral ministry. His sharing motivated the seminarians to be zealous missionaries for Christ wherever required.
On the second day of the Triduum in honour of Saint John Mary Vianney, Ms. Asha Vaz, a Parishioner of St. Sebastian Church, Aquem and the President of the Goa Central Council of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul shared her experience from the perspective of the lay faithful on the life and ministry of priests. As she remembered with gratitude the positive impact of priests on the lives of their faithful, she also offered some positive critique to enhance the life and ministry of priests. She invited seminarians and priests to be persons of prayer, integrity and be persons filled with passion for the ministry of Christ.
On the final day of the Triduum, Rev. Fr. Roland Carvalho the parish priest of Our Lady of Succoro Church, Carmona shared his rich experiences of being a priest. In his sharing he urged the seminarians and priests to be obedient, truthful and faithful to their duties towards the Church of Christ. He shared on the importance of personal moments before the Blessed Sacrament for the effective functioning of a priest. He further urged the seminarians to form themselves unto the heart and mind of Christ, the Good Shepherd.