Old Goa, December 3, 2025 — A landmark moment for the Catholic community in Goa unfolded at the Basilica of Bom Jesus as Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão formally released the much-awaited New Missal in Konkani (Romi Misa-Gronth) during the solemn feast Mass of St. Francis Xavier. The unveiling marks one of the most significant liturgical developments in recent decades for the Church in Goa.
In his address, Cardinal Ferrão expressed deep appreciation for the Commission for the Liturgy in Konkani (CLK–Goa), acknowledging the years of research, translation, consultation, and pastoral collaboration that have gone into producing the new liturgical text in the Roman script.
A Collaborative Effort Across Dioceses
During the ceremony, Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes launched Misache Somarombhnnechi Manddavoll – Soho-Somarombhpeanchea Upeoga Pasot, the Order of Mass for Concelebrants. The wide-scale effort to develop the Missal involved the dioceses of Mangalore, Goa and Daman, Sindhudurg, Karwar, Udupi, and Belgaum.
The first regional meeting took place on March 26, 2010, at Bishop’s House, Mangalore, chaired by Bishop Aloysius D’Souza. Representatives from Goa included Fr. Afonso Mendonça, Fr. Tomas Lobo, and the late Fr. Cristovao Caldeira.
To ensure accuracy and unity, the Commission reviewed texts using a four-column structure: Latin, English, the current Konkani text, and the proposed Konkani translation. Two groups were formed to accelerate the work, each responsible for specific sections of the Mass. Meetings were held every three months, lasting four to five days at a stretch.
Rigorous Review and Musical Unification
Each draft of the Missal was reviewed by experts, including over 20 priests from Goa proficient in Roman-script Konkani and Latin. Their insights led to further refinements, ensuring that the final text was pastorally sound and linguistically precise.
A Music Committee was also constituted to standardise tunes across dioceses. The team included Fr. Afonso Mendonca, Fr. Ronald Serrao, Fr. Tomas Lobo, Bishop Simião Fernandes, Fr. Lino De Sa, Fr. Bernado Cota, Fr. Matthew Rebello, Fr. Joe Rodrigues, Fr. Romeo Monteiro, and Fr. Seby Vaz.
Implementation from Ash Wednesday
The New Konkani Missal will officially come into liturgical use from Ash Wednesday. Preparatory sessions for families, catechists, and parish communities will begin during Advent, supported by a new booklet on the Order of the Mass published by the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy.
Two additional booklets—The Order of the Mass for the Faithful and The Order of the Children’s Mass—were released by Mathew De Souza and Sr. Alexia Braz FMCK, respectively.
Fr. Afonso Mendonça expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this years-long mission, noting that the new Missal represents a unified voice of the Konkani-speaking Church.
The release marks a historic step for the faithful of Goa, offering a beautifully revised, deeply studied, and pastorally enriched liturgical text that will guide worship for generations to come.
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