News : Alfred Furtado, Pics : Sanita Crasta
The Commissions for Catholic Catechism and Social Communication jointly marked the occasion with a full-day programme spanning liturgy, digital literacy, sport, and Marian prayer.
Parish Life | Barkur | Feast of the Holy Trinity
The annual Children's Get-Together at St. Peter Church, Barkur, unfolded as a day of faith and festivity as the parish community came together to celebrate Children's Day under the joint stewardship of the Commissions for Catholic Catechism and Social Communication.
The day began with the Holy Mass, during which Parish Priest Fr. Ronald Miranda delivered a homily drawing a direct line between Christian doctrine and everyday life. "Christian teaching is rooted in sharing and caring — that is the essence of the Holy Trinity," he told the assembled faithful. The liturgy also marked a significant milestone for seven young parishioners, who were presented with the Phinth — a traditional symbol conferring a higher and holier responsibility upon altar servers in service of the Church.
Following Mass, the children gathered in the parish mini hall for a session led by resource person Ms. Diana Saldanha, who spoke on the responsible use of social media and artificial intelligence. The talk offered the young audience a timely and practical framework for navigating the digital world. The session was followed by the screening of an award-winning wildlife documentary, which held the children's rapt attention throughout.
A warm, home-cooked lunch brought the community to the table, with Ms. Gulabi serving as lead chef, ably assisted by Mr. Ripon D'Souza, Mr. Francis Picardo, and a team of dedicated volunteers who ensured a wholesome meal was served to all.
The afternoon gave way to outdoor games, with boys and girls alike throwing themselves into spirited rounds of Lagori and cricket — drawing cheers and laughter from participants and onlookers in equal measure.
As evening fell, children and parishioners made their way to Mother Mary's Grotto for communal prayer. The celebrations drew to a close with the Litany of Mother Mary and the singing of Marian hymns, bringing the day full circle in the spirit of prayer with which it had begun.
The programme was coordinated by ICYM President Reyan Arouza and Dwayne Lewis, with generous support from members of the parish community throughout the day.