The meeting of Deans and Secretaries of Diocesan Commissions was called at Punit Sadan on June 25, 2024. It began with the invocation of the Holy Spirit by the coordinating secretary of all commissions, Rev. Fr. Nirmal Miranda. He welcomed the bishop and all those present and invited them to have a fruitful interactive session. The bishop, who was meeting the secretaries for the first time, gave the key note address in which he praised those present for silently working without making any public show and explained to them the importance of deans and various commissions for the growth of the diocese. He urged the creation of second- and third-line leadership among priests, and then he enthusiastically listened to all reports of the activities of commissions. Time was given for interaction and clarification, and then he gave them a series of guidelines from his experience as director of the Diocesan Pastoral Center: planning, executing, and reporting.
Bishop thanked Fr. Alex Fernandes (family), Fr. John Rodrigues (vocations), Fr. Royston Fernandes (youth), and Salvador Rodrigues (communication and evangelization) for their dedicated service for many years and wished the best of his support to the incoming secretaries, Fr. Sachin D’Souza (family), Fr. Stewart Fernandes (communication and evangelization), and Fr. Silvan Rodrigues (youth and vocations).
The bishop then thanked everyone present for their generous availability.