Catholics across Goa
this year undertook a three tier Walking Pilgrimage (Bhavarthachi Yatra) –
Representative’s pilgrimage, parishioners pilgrimage and family pilgrimage.
Representatives of the parishes across Goa walked to Sancoale Old Church on the
first Sunday, March 6 of Lent.
It was in this church that St Joseph Vaz wrote
a letter of bondage and later on, during his spiritual journey in Sri Lanka, he
walked sharing the message of Christ to the less fortunate. Archbishop Filipe
Neri Ferrão who participated in the walking pilgrimage presided over the
Eucharistic celebration held at the premises of the ruins of Old Sancoale
church. Other parish priests also concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.
The Walking Pilgrimage was organised by the archdiocese of Goa and Daman to
understand the salvific value of suffering, to spread the joy of being a
Christian, to gain God’s grace during difficulties and also an occasion for
personal conversion. It was an opportunity provided by the archbishop of the
archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão, for the church in
Goa to walk with Christ, who first walked to Calvary. On Sunday, March 6 2022,
being the First Sunday of Lent, early morning around 2.30 am the parishioners
from various churches across Goa both from North and South took part in the
‘Walking Pilgrimage’ which is also known as ‘Bhavartachi Yatra’ to Sancoale.
More than ten thousand people took part and all the arrangements were done
here. The volunteers also played an important role in helping the people.
People coming for the event were provided with hot black tea and a bun. While
other arrangements were also were put in place such as Drinking water, first
aid, toilets, fire brigade, security and police.
The
number of participants this year were however restricted to follow the covid
SOP’s. The faithful also had an opportunity to put down their petitions on a
paper at the Cross Square specially erected for the Walking Pilgrimage. The
archbishop raised those petitions up though a special prayer.
