Goa Church joins prayer campaign over funding legislation

PANJIM, Goa (Indian Catholic News) — Cardinal Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa has formally endorsed a nationwide Catholic prayer initiative ahead of India’s upcoming parliamentary session, urging parishes, religious communities and lay faithful to participate in a June 28 Day of Prayer.

In a circular dated June 18, Cardinal Ferrão referred to a June 17 appeal by Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, calling for a National Day of Prayer in response to concerns surrounding the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act Amendment Bill 2026.

 Cardinal Poola had requested that June 28 be observed as a day of prayer for the country because the legislation is expected to be considered during Parliament’s forthcoming monsoon session and could have a possible negative impact on the charitable, educational, healthcare and social ministries carried out by the Catholic Church in India.

In addition to prayer, the CBCI president had also urged a civic response — “a peaceful and democratic expression of our concern”. He encouraged Church communities to prepare memorandums expressing concerns about the proposed legislation and its possible impact on Church ministries.

“Echoing His Eminence’s concerns and uniting myself to the Church in India,” Cardinal Ferrão wrote, “I too would like to request our Pastoral Clergy and Superiors of Religious Communities in this Archdiocese to observe Sunday, the 28 June 2026, as a Day of Prayer for our Nation.”

The archbishop called for prayers “for those entrusted with public responsibility, and for the freedom of the Church to carry out her mission of service to society and nation-building.”

He directed that prayers be offered during “the celebration of the Holy Eucharist,” at Small Christian Community prayer meetings and during family rosaries. He also instructed that the bishops’ conference circular be displayed on parish notice boards for the information of the faithful.

Cardinal Ferrão’s circular aligns the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman with a broader effort by the Catholic Church in India to mobilize prayer and public support regarding the proposed legislation.

 “May our united prayer, offered with faith and perseverance, obtain from God the blessings we seek and deepen our trust in His loving providence,” he wrote.

Read the full message.