3rd March 2026: The annual Foundation Day of the Association of Crusaders for Jesus with Mary (ACJM) is a momentous occasion for all its members, donors and well-wishers, to come together and celebrate yet another milestone. The event generally begins with a Thanksgiving Mass and is followed by a program and an agape meal. This year, Crusaders from all over Goa came together at the St. Pius X Pastoral Institute in Old Goa to celebrate the 29th Foundation Day of the ACJM on 3rd March 2026.
Fr. Jorge Fernandes, Director of the Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate, was the main celebrant at the Thanksgiving Mass which began at 11am. A number of diocesan and religious priests concelebrated the Mass. Nun sisters from various congregation were also seen in attendance.
The Mass was followed by a brief program, which began with the presenting of roses to all the priests present. This was followed by the cutting of the cake by the Coordinator General, Shri. Marlon D’Cruz along with members of the elders forum. The Coordinator General then addressed the gathering and in his speech he stressed on the need to rely more on the Lord than on our human efforts. Next, a number of Crusaders shared about their faith journey of how they were strengthened by the Word of God and the fellowship in the ACJM when they were faced with a severe trial in their lives. After that, Br. Edmund Antao, the founder and Spiritual Guide of the ACJM addressed the gathering and urged everyone to re-examine their faith.
The programme ended with an agape meal. Besides the chatting and the laughter that filled the refectory and the long corridors of the institute, one could sense the unmistakable joy of Christian fellowship flowing from the crowd. The 29th Foundation Day celebration was indeed a memorable one. Everyone went home filled with joy and the determination to deepen their faith.
Newspaper Reports
The Goa daily HERALD newspaper carried two reports on the Crusaders Foundation Day event held on 3rd March.
Following is the text form of the newspaper report:
The movement in the Catholic church called the Association of Crusaders for Jesus with Mary (ACJM) commemorated the completion of its 29 years at a well-attended event in Old Goa at the St Pius X Pastoral Institute. In these years the ACJM has branched out to various areas and dioceses in the rest of India and is now operating in several countries abroad.
Hundreds of its members, wishers of the ACJM, collaborators and well-wishers of the ACJM attended the Holy Mass which was presided over by Fr Jorge Fernandes, Director of the Diocesan Centre for Lay Apostolate and concelebrated by a retinue of severeal Parish Priests, both diocesan and religious and by the Executive Secretary of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Family Commission.
In attendance also were several Sisters and members of the Elders Forum and the leadership of its various zones and ministries viz. youth, married, music, senior citizens, intercession, formation, Village & City evangelisation and Office staff besides enthusiastic cadres transported by special buses from different parts of Goa. Elaborate seating and video viewing arrangements had been made to cater to the jam-packed audience which spilled outside the main hall venue.
In his homily during the Mass, Fr Jorge shared his insights on the Gospel reading of the day and urged all not to become hypocrites and like modern-day Pharisees who say things but never practice what they say in their actual life. “Let us become increasingly humble that God may use us,” he said. In his address, the Coordinator General Marlon D Cruz further laid emphasis on developing as disciples of the Lord and not settling down for a lukewarm Christianity that brings no glory to God. The programme after the Mass included some among the Crusaders sharing their experiences on how being a part of the Crusader community has brought about a life-transformation/ conversion in their lives.
The programme after the Mass was compered by Tadeo Vales and Eurico Noronha and concluded with a celebratory meal for all. Levin Rodrigues proposed a vote of thanks on the occasion.
Following is the text form of the newspaper report:
Drawing from the saying of Jesus Christ (Luke 18:8) – Will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he returns? and again from the saying of St Paul (2 Cor 13:5) – Examine yourself, to see if you are living in the faith; the founder and Spiritual Guide of the Crusaders Mr Edmund Antao made a clarion call to all in this cra to re-examine the faith they really live in background of the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church).
Addressing the huge gathering on the occasion of its 29th Foundation Day Edmund Antao pointed out that the current situation the world was going through whether in spread of wars and culminating in nuclear conflict, climate change & natural disasters, civil uprisings, food shortages, famines & economic depression, the degrading of moral values under the excuse of individual liberties, and the outbreak of epidemics of diseases some man-made etc, rightly places this current period of history in the long foretold world-wide Tribulation stage which is to precede the coming of the promised Era of Peace and the victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as foretold by the Blessed Mother of Jesus at her apparition at Fatima, Far from inducing despair or fear, the need of the hour is to delve into what our faith is truly based on and to strengthen it. This is particularly in light of the fact that God still loves this world which is in a really bad shape now because it is tasting the fruit of its choice of apostasy or falling away from the faith. We need to be therefore numbered as people on God’s side and reflect the same in our living faith for that is the personal holiness we are called to, more in this tribulation period. He reminded people of what the Lord Jesus had lamented (Lk 19:42) – If only you knew what is required for Peace, but now you are blind and cannot see it.
Edmund Antao also outlined the role of lay persons who constitute over 97% in the Church flowing from their baptism and explained the evolution of this role from early times down to the period of Catholic Action of Pope Pius XI and further to the Second Vatican Council and down to the present times, reminding the audience of what successive Popes had said.
The laity and the clergy walk hand in hand together with mutual respect in our God-given mission and this is a reality essential for vibrantly enhancing the mission of the church.
Edmund Antao urged members everywhere to shed any luke-warmness in their faith by rediscovering personal intimacy with the Lord Jesus through meditation on the depth of sacred scripture & prayer, meaningful participation in sacramental life and living the sacred traditions in the Church, he remarked that only when each one is on fire for Jesus then we can light other fires for Him. In these times there is not just a mere drizzle but a heavy down-pour of God’s Holy Spirit on people all over the world as if in a new Pentecost, he said.
He urged people not to go with the current of the world but to dare to swim against the current and be numbered as truly being the people of God. The time for being cold or lukewarm in our Christian faith is over he declared, and we need to be hot and vibrant in our faith to be filled with hope & to ready ourselves for the coming period of the victory of the Immaculate heart of Mary and the foretold Era of Peace after the worst now comes to pass in the present world-wide Tribulation.