CRI Goa and Daman Seminar Calls for Christ-Centred Formation and Synodal Mission

Goa, September 13, 2026: The Conference of Religious India (CRI), Goa and Daman, organised a seminar for formees and formators of religious congregations serving in Goa on September 13 at Padre Pio Friary, Modi Navelim, South Goa.

Held on the theme “Abide in Me: Walking Together in Formation and Mission,” the seminar explored the role of accompaniment, discernment, community and synodality in religious formation.

Fr. Shannon Pereira SJ, Director of Xavier’s Retreat House, Baga, Bardez, delivered the keynote address, drawing inspiration from the 2026–27 Pastoral Letter Abide in Me of Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão.

Reflecting on the apparent tension between “abiding” and “walking,” Fr. Pereira said that remaining in Christ does not mean standing still but gives Christians the direction, courage and freedom to walk with others in mission.

He drew on the Gospel account of the disciples’ encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Emmaus. Their plea, “Stay with us,” ultimately led them back to Jerusalem after they recognised Jesus in the breaking of bread. “His staying makes them move,” he said.

Fr. Pereira stressed that formation should enable religious to recognise and work through inner struggles such as resentment, anxiety, comparison and past wounds. He urged them to learn to “live from Christ” rather than merely performing activities for Christ.

Listening, accompaniment and discernment, he said, are essential dimensions of formation. He also noted that formation does not take place only through formal programmes, as “community forms us, failure forms us, and culture forms us.”

Linking formation with synodality, Fr. Pereira described synodality as “another way of being Church,” rooted in listening, encounter and walking together.

Addressing the formators, Fr. Canute Tauro OCD highlighted the challenges involved in accompanying religious in formation and stressed the need for appropriate models and approaches to meet emerging challenges. Fr. Cranston Vaz SVD conducted a session for the formees on the seminar theme.

Formees representing different religious congregations also presented reflections on the theme during the programme.

In his homily, Fr. Aldon Coelho OFMCap. reflected on the call to abide in Christ through forgiveness, reconciliation and synodality. He stressed that genuine communion with Christ must necessarily bear fruit in communion with others.

Welcoming the participants, Sr. Livia Nunes SFN, Vice President of CRI Goa and Daman, described formation as a journey of accompaniment in which formators and formees walk together, remaining centred on Christ while growing in their vocation and mission.

By Catholic Connect Reporter