TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Stage is set for the annual Fama of Menino Jesus at the Our Lady of Merces Church, Colva, on Monday.
Hectic preparations were underway to give final touches to the arrangements as the church has been decked up for the solemn occasion. A huge pandal has been erected in front of the church for the Eucharistic celebration.
Parish Priest Fr Joseph Silva said the preparations are nearing completion, adding “we expect all arrangements to fall in place by Sunday”. He said the Fama celebration is centered on the theme that a good Christian is a person who lives a beautiful life, full of love, truth, justice and forgiveness like Jesus lived. “Jesus is alive. Jesus is very close to us. We have to follow him and live as he lived,” he added.
Thousands of devotees from Goa and outside throng the Our Lady of Merces Church for the Fama every year to seek blessings and to offer thanksgivings for favours granted.
As usual, the High Mass will be celebrated at 5.30 am, followed by the solemn ceremony when the miraculous statue of Menino Jesus will be brought down from the altar, followed by procession, blessing and veneration. Besides, Masses will be held at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 11 am and 12 noon and at 3 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm.
Meanwhile, the police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Fama. Police from the Vasco, Quepem and Margao police sub-divisions have been requisitioned for security duties.
Meanwhile, ahead of the Fama of Menino Jesus, a book on the Fama was released at the hands of Justice Eurico da Silva at the auditorium of the District Library in Navelim on Saturday. The book titled ‘Fama of Menino Jesus of Colva ~ Faith and Festivity across History’ is written by Jose Venancio Machado of Colva. Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas spoke on the book.
