Come December 4, 2017 and Goa will be celebrating the feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa.
A saint revered by all religions and classes, the ongoing novenas bring
together people from all walks of life. Youngsters who used to earlier
accompany their parents, gradually fell in love with the miraculous powers of
the saint, and now make their own journey for the novenas.
Anthony Gomes from St Estevam has been a member of the St
Francis Xavier Exposition Committee 2014. He has been the youth president of
the St Estevam Church youth for over three years and feels a special bond with
St Francis Xavier. “I have been going for the novenas and feast of St Francis
Xavier for almost eight years and do my best to attend every novena without
fail. This year too, after finishing my work duties, I travel from Merces to
Old Goa for the novenas in the evening before going home. It is a wonderful
experience to be there at this time of the year because there is so much of
solidarity among people. They are all coming together in faith and this is one
of the biggest celebratons in Goa. I have not seen such togetherness for any
other festival,” says Anthony.
Elaine Furtado is a member of the Sarzora church choir, which
had their parish novena on November 25, 2017 at Old Goa. They started their
journey at five in the morning, to be ready for the 8:15am novena mass. “I
played the organ and sang in the choir. Even during the Exposition, Sarzora
church was selected for one novena and I was a part of that choir too. I make
it a point to attend at least one novena every year and I travel from Sarzora
by myself to be there,” says Elaine, one of the nine-member choir. They have
been practising for two weeks for their novena. An SYBA student at Carmel
College, Nuvem, Elaine admires the strong faith of the people who come for the
novenas. “People from all walks of life are present together for the novenas
and it is a nice feeling to attend the morning mass. There is a serene
atmosphere at Old Goa,” she says.
Sarina D’Souza from Siolim has been attending the novenas and
feast for years. “I go every year for the novenas and feast. I deeply believe
in miracles as whatever I have prayed for has been granted; this makes St
Francis Xavier special for me. The masses and visits to Old Goa are not only
restricted to the novenas. We visit the place and attend masses throughout the
year,” says Sarina, who is also a catechist in the Siolim parish.
Shunaina Baptista travels all the way from Majorda for the first
mass in the morning, accompanied by her parents, sister, grandmother and
cousins. An FYBEd student at Ponda Education Society, Ponda, it is a family
tradition for her to attend the novenas. “We travel every year as a family and
we sometimes start as early as 3am to make it for the first novena at 5am. It
is a beautiful feeling and we feel lucky that St Francis Xavier’s relics are in
Goa and we have his blessings and it is our privilege. The least we can do is
attend the mass when celebrating his feast,” says Shunaina, who is also a
member of the Utorda choir.
Abipal Pereira e D’Mello from Divar has been attending the
novenas since childhood. She feels that St Francis Xavier has been a huge
influence in her life. “There is a unique feeling in travelling in the cold
morning to be surrounded by spirituality at Old Goa. I was also a volunteer for
the Exposition and I used to assist those attending the novenas. I used to pray
to St Francis Xavier to give me a life partner and my wish was granted this
January when I got married,” says Abipal.
Ashloy
Almeida from Bambolim runs his own fitness business and makes time to attend
the 3:45pm mass. “When I go there, it is a different experience. I regularly
attend mass in my own church but Old Goa has its own charm. St Francis Xavier
was a missionary in Goa. This state is safe because of him guiding us. He is
protecting us and we should be grateful for it. I was a youth president in my
parish and we used to go as a youth for at least one novena. Now, with most
members working abroad, the number has reduced. We hope to go next year at
least for one novena,” says Ashloy.
