MONTH OF JUNE 2023
PREPARATORY SESSION FOR THE 9th GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ACJM
The General Assembly of the ACJM is a body consisting of delegates selected from among the ranks of the several hundreds of Crusaders cadres by a process of secret ballot voting and after much prayer & discernment. These delegates have the power to deliberate on the state of affairs of the ACJM, make amendments to the General Statutes of the ACJM, and even elect its leader, the Coordinator-General. The 9th General Assembly this time comprised of in total 57 delegates. In view of the upcoming 9th General Assembly 2023, a preparatory session was held for these delegates on 25th June 2023 at the new hall in Pallotti Home, Chicalim-Vasco.
MONTH OF JULY 2023
CEHC - YOUNG MARRIED HEARTS
The 'Young Married Hearts' is one of the branches of the Christ Every Home Crusade (CEHC) ministry of the ACJM and it consists of couples who have completed not more than 15 years of married life. The aim is to help spouses remain committed to one another by tackling various marital issues on the basis of the Word of God, fellowship and prayer. Besides the regular online meetings held every month, there are also day-long sessions held once in two months at some Retreat House. At these day-long sessions, the spouses get the opportunity to listen to the Word of God, have a heart-to-heart evaluation of one another, hear testimonies of other couples, participate in group discussions, etc. A day-long session was held on the 2nd of July, Sunday 2023 in South Goa.
INAUGURATION OF THE NEW ADVANCED CRUSADERS MINISTRY
Aging is something that no one can stop. It brings with it its own challenges. But at the same time, aging itself cannot stop anyone from serving God. That was the same spirit that Caleb had, "Look at me! I am eighty-five years old and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else. (Joshua 14:10-11). And that is the same spirit with which a number of senior Crusaders have gathered together to be part of this new ministry called the ADVANCED CRUSADERS ministry. The ministry was inaugurated on 9th July 2023 at a place in South Goa.
9th GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE ACJM 2023
The 9" General Assembly (GA) of the 26 year-old Association of Crusaders for Jesus with Mary (ACJM) was held at the John Paul auditorium of the Pastoral Institute in Old Goa on 16th July 2023. The theme aptly reflecting the spirit of the Crusaders cadres, was — ‘Zeal for your house O God, burns in me like a fire’ (John 2:17).
The General Assembly was inaugurated by the Director of the Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate, Rev Fr. Marian D' Costa in the presence of a host of Priests and religious besides scores of special invitees from the laity.
Presiding over the concelebrated Holy Mass on the occasion Fr. Marian congratulated the ACIM on the wide expansion it has achieved for the glory of God both in India and abroad, while exhorting the gathering to continue in its mission to spread the Word of God far and wide.
A special publication titled - What the Church Leaders have to say about the ACJM — was also released at this event at the hands of Rev Fr Patrick Furtado, Rector of Villa Pallotti, Parra.
Soon after the Celebration of the Holy Mass, the GA settled down to deliberate on the state of affairs of the Association operating in Goa & other parts of India as well as in some countries abroad. The position of Spiritual Guide of the Association was conferred on Br. Edmund Antao.
The daylong session, among other things, saw the election of the new leadership of the ACIM by secret ballot conducted at the venue itself.
The results of the election were announced and Engg. Marlon D' Cruz was installed as the new Coordinator General of the ACJM. In his inaugural address to the GA soon after being elected, Marlon D' Cruz said that it is imperative the ACJM does not now sink into a mode of complacency resting on its laurels but instead continues to be forward-looking, moving beyond comfort- zones in its zeal to spread the message of Christ.
