Bible Quiz for Small Christian Communities Held at St. Anne Church, Ponda in Goa

Goa, January 28, 2026:

The Catechetical Unit of St. Anne Church, Ponda, organised the parish-level finale of the Small Christian Communities (SCC) Bible Quiz on Sunday, 25 January 2026, reaffirming the parish’s strong commitment to biblical apostolate and family catechesis.

The initiative focused on catechising families at the SCC level by actively involving members of all age groups within their own faith communities. As part of the preparation, parish catechists visited all sixteen SCCs during November, conducting Bible quizzes based on the books of Genesis and Exodus. This grassroots approach brought catechesis into homes and neighbourhoods, encouraging family-based faith formation and deeper engagement with Sacred Scripture.

The parish acknowledged the dedicated efforts of Ms. Nikita Mendes, Coordinator of the St. Anne Catechetical Association, Ponda, whose persistent encouragement motivated hesitant SCCs to participate. Her commitment helped revitalise SCC meetings and ensured the formation of teams from each community. Of the sixteen SCCs, fourteen teams qualified for the parish-level finale, supported by fellow SCC members and Parish Pastoral Council animators.

The programme opened with a Biblical Prayer Service prepared by Mr. Yeshudas Muttu, Catechist and Quiz Coordinator. The service set a reflective tone for the event and highlighted the central role of the Word of God in daily Christian life. Fr. Heston Ferrão of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol served as the Quiz Master and conducted the quiz in a lively and engaging manner. The rounds covered books such as Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Judges, and Joshua. He also introduced participants to Bible-related digital resources, encouraging the faithful to make use of modern tools for Scripture reading and reflection.

Following successive elimination rounds, five teams advanced to the final stage, which included the Open Bible, Identify the Person, Picture, and Rapid Fire rounds. The confident and informed participation of the teams reflected the effectiveness of SCC-based family catechesis. Spot prizes further ensured enthusiastic audience involvement throughout the event.

The Parish Priest, Fr. Francis Rozario OFM, presented the prizes to the winning teams. Fr. Heston Ferrão commended the parish for its synodal approach to catechesis, marked by strong lay leadership and active family participation. Mr. Yeshudas Muttu proposed the vote of thanks.

The event was coordinated by Mr. Yeshudas Muttu, Ms. Ophelia Diniz, Mr. Melrico Pereira, and Mr. Mackson Dias, highlighting a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility among the lay faithful.

Bible Quiz for Small Christian Communities Held at St. Anne Church, Ponda in Goa

Latest News