As the Jubilee Year 2025, which is a Holy Year in the Catholic Church has just begun, Pope Francis proclaimed it will have the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. However, in Goa, the journey of the Pilgrim Cross and the Icon of Mary for the World Youth Day which set out in July visited each of the 198 churches and chapels in Goa, leading to an inspiration for the youth of the state. This Pilgrim Cross was specifically crafted by Fr Jovial while the Portrait of Mother Mary – Mother of God, was painted on wood by Daphney, a youth member of the Seraulim parish. After a journey of 19 weeks, the Cross and Portrait arrived at the Diocesan Youth Day celebrations in December 2024.
Inspired by this journey and the day long visit of the Cross and Portrait at the Anjuna on November 11, the parish of Anjuna conceptualized a unique cross and installed it as Parish Jubilee cross. The original idea was proposed by Fr Noel Menezes, the newly appointed local superior of Anjuna Local house and was executed by a team of parishioners comprising of Agnel e Souza from Igrez Waddo, Lucy D’Souza from Zorr Waddo and John D’Souza from Monteiro Waddo, Anjuna.
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“The cross which was once paradoxically a symbol of Suffering and defeat is now a symbol of triumph and salvation because of Jesus. It is now a central symbol of Christianity having many meaning: it is a not just a symbol of salvation and of victory; but also of faith; of love; and of hope. It is also a sign of proclamation. This unique cross got developed as the jubilee was fast approaching,” explains Fr Noel.
The team prepared a list of all the Goan churches and the patron/ patroness to which they were dedicated. The parish team led by parish priest Fr Santiago Fernandes, Fr Noel Menezes as the assistant parish priest, Fr A Antonio Paulo Vas, priest on staff and Fr Glen D’Silva as the chaplain while presenting the concept said the saints having walked ahead of us are our ray of hope.
The cross has 30 statues with the statue of the wooden Holy Cross right at the top as a symbol of love and victory and at the bottom are the Three Kings who faithfully came in search of Jesus Christ, the saviour.
“Ubaldo D’Souza brought the wood for the cross while Agnel e Souza from completed the cross and fixed the base. A few statues have been from the collection of late Danston D’Souza and rest of the statues are from my personal collection,” says Fr Noel. It took three months to execute the whole project. However, the cross will not be travelling but will be on view at St Michael Church, Anjuna, throughout the Jubilee Year 2025.
