Duler Parish seeks to empower Grandparents and Elders with Cybercrime-Literacy
The Grandparents’ and Elders’ Appreciation Day was marked with abundant joy and purposefulness in the Parish of St Francis Xavier Church, Duler on Sunday, 27th of July, 2025.
The Social Apostolate Cell (SAC) and the Family Apostolate Cell (FAC) of the Parish coordinated the two-part program in the morning and evening, respectively.
In the morning, the Social Apostolate Cell in coordination with the Senior Citizens’ Forum of the Parish, came together to pray and appreciate the Grandparents and Elders for their invaluable gift to the parish community at a largely attended Mass followed by an Educational-Cultural Celebration.
The Catechism Children along with the Youth of the Parish through meaningful Konkani cultural songs and a relevant Konkani skit extolled the virtues of the grandparents and elders’ as well as highlighted their modern-day challenges, especially with regard to Cybercrimes.
The Chief Guest for the day, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Mapusa, DySP Wilson Cipriano D’Souza, appreciated the Parish and the SAC for the well-organised and meaningful program and called on everyone to respect and honour the Elders who are a gift to us and the society. He assured the Senior Citizens that the Mapusa Police are at their service and committed to their security and safety. He welcomed them to his Office if they have any grievances with regard to any law-and-order issues.
The Guest of Honour for the day, Police Inspector Vidyanand Pawar of the Cybercrime Branch, gave an excellent presentation on the modern-day challenges facing our Senior Citizens as regards digital technology and the related web of Cybercrimes. He detailed the various types of Cybercrimes and gave helpful tips to the seniors for the safe use of digital gadgets so as to avoid the traps of Cyber thieves.
The Parish Priest, Fr Anthony Fernandes, lauded the Grandparents and the Elders for being timeless beacons of hope and priceless treasures of Faith, Wisdom and Culture to the Community, the children and youth, in particular. He profusely appreciated the guests, the elders, the people present, the participants and the organisers.
The event was also graced by other Special Invitees such as Justice Sabino Braganza, Civil Judge, Junior Division & J.M.F.C., Margao, who is also a son of the soil and Mrs. Maryann D’Souza, Range Forest Officer (RFO), Goa Forest Department.
The highlight of the event was a cultural programme put up by the senior citizens themselves, that included a traditional Mando, graceful fashion show, and soul-stirring cultural songs. The morning part ended with a simple but joyful fellowship lunch.
In the evening, the members of the Family Apostolate Cell along with the Parish Pastoral Council and the Somudai leaders carried the spirit of the celebration to the homes of those Senior Citizens living alone or homebound, visiting them, appreciating them with beautiful cards prepared by the Catechism Children, presenting them tokens of love and spending some time with them to make them feel loved, cared and valued members of the Parish Community.
It was a very meaningful celebration that brought immeasurable happiness to the Grandparents and Elders or Senior Citizens of the Parish Community and gave them a sense of dignity and shared identity. It was a moving tribute to the faith, wisdom, resilience, and enduring joy that elders bring to our families, and community life.
