Goa and Daman Archbishop extends Diwali greetings

Goa and Daman Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao today greeted the Hindu community ahead of the Diwali festival on Sunday.
"On behalf of the Catholic community and on my own behalf I extend most cordial greetings to our Hindu sisters and brothers on the occasion of Diwali, the Festival of Lights," the Archbishop said in a release here.
"We feel particularly encouraged by their enthusiasm to consign to ashes the Demon of Darkness in order to usher in the glorious reign of Light and see in this the victory of good over evil," he said.
The Catholic Church worldwide is engaged in a deep reflection on the institution of the family and related problems, he said.

"We would like to join hands with other communities to work for the strengthening of our family life, which is being challenged today as never before," Ferrao said.
He said the symbolic act of burning the Narakasur (demon king) is a sign of the human commitment for the health of the world, which depends a great deal on the wholesome -- physical, moral, spiritual -- health of the family.
"May all these human efforts bear fruit, with the blessings of the Almighty," he added.