The Diocesan Youth Centre held its “Day with the Lord” advent programme in preparation for Christmas on 7th December 2025 at the Holy Cross Shrine, Bambolim, with the theme “Abide in Me-Jn. 15:4” Around 250 youngsters from 25 parishes across Goa took part in this spiritual preparation.
The day began with joyful praise and worship, followed by an input session by Fr. Snyter Pereira, Prefect of Discipline at Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, who reflected on what it means to ‘stay connected to Christ.’ The Eucharistic was presided over by, Fr. Blaise Lobo, Director of Diocesan Youth Centre, who spoke to the youth about abiding in Christ and then lead the youth to a creatively meaningful offertory rite where participants offered to God the desired of their heart which were then put up on the cross shaped Christmas tree, to symbolize ‘abiding in Christ.’ The afternoon was engaged in an interactive activity, to facilitate the participants to wish each other and to promise to pray for one another during this season of advent until Christmas.
Fr. Leonardo Pegado de Souza, parish priest of Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Bambolim, and the resident priests at the Shrine Fr. Asterio and Fr. Filipe, supported through his youth volunteers and other necessary facilities at the Shrine along with the sisters of the Holy Family. Young volunteers from across Goa and lead by the DYC DEXCO team coordinated the entire day. It was a spiritually enriching day as shared by the participants themselves that helped the youth to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ this Christmas.
