Parish elevation comes with call to deepen faith and Christian witness in India

The Chapel of Our Lady of Piety in Uguem, Goa, was elevated to parish status on Oct. 20, becoming the 176th parish in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. This marks the fifth parish in the archdiocese dedicated to Our Lady of Piety.

During the transition, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, told the community that the new status brings a responsibility to deepen Christian commitment and live the faith in daily life. He identified three specific duties for the new parish: growing in faith, living the mystery of communion and fellowship, and continuing the mission of Christ.

Cardinal Ferrão encouraged the faithful to nurture their relationship with God through prayer, reading the Word of God, and celebrating the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. He described the Church as a living community of followers of Jesus Christ rather than just an institution or a building.