Bible Quiz Promotes Faith and Fellowship Among Senior Citizens in Goa

Goa, August 22, 2026: Senior citizens from seven parishes of the Raia Deanery took part in a Bible Quiz held at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol on August 21, combining biblical knowledge with creativity, teamwork and fellowship.

Organised by the Executive Committee of the Raia Deanery Pastoral Council under the guidance of Dean Fr. Simon Barnabe Fernandes, parish priest of Loutolim Church, the programme sought to encourage continued faith formation among senior citizens.

Dr. Donato Rodrigues, Rector of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, was the chief guest. Welcoming the participants, Fr. Fernandes noted their enthusiasm and said their participation demonstrated that learning and growing in faith had no age limit.

(Click here to follow Catholic Connect for regular News and Content)

Fr. Heston Ferrão, Director of Philosophical Studies at the seminary, conducted the quiz with Yeshudas Muttu, catechist at St. Anne Church, Ponda, and assistant professor at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda.

Seven teams, each comprising three members, represented parishes across the Raia Deanery. Based on the Gospel of St. Luke, the competition featured six rounds covering biblical knowledge, creativity and teamwork. The rounds included character miming, alphabetical Bible recall, drawing, passage identification, a picture round and a final challenge based on the infancy narrative in St Luke’s Gospel.

St. Alex Church, Curtorim, emerged as the winners, while Our Lady of Snow Church, Rachol, secured the runners-up position.

Addressing the participants after the competition, Dr. Rodrigues said the quiz should not be viewed merely as an intellectual exercise or a contest for prizes. He described it as an opportunity to deepen one’s relationship with Christ and urged participants to ensure that competitions strengthen rather than weaken relationships.

Referring to Jesus’ teaching on mutual love, he encouraged the participants to make fellowship and Christian fraternity central to such activities.

The programme provided senior citizens with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Scripture while fostering faith, fellowship and continued participation in the life of the Church.

By Ms. Cintia Fernandes e Clemente,

Moderator,

Raia Deanery Pastoral Council