Fr Lancy Rodrigues (Karwar Diocese), followed by Way of the Cross and
Mass in English by
Fr Prashant Koppal (Belgaum Diocese), Way of the Cross and Mass in Kannada by
Fr Deepak Joseph (Montfort Fathers, Bengaluru), Mass in Marathi by Fr Joe Monteiro (Sindhudurg Diocese) and Way of the
Cross and Mass in Konkani by
Fr Derek Fernandes (Bishop of Belgaum).
The day is observed every year on a
Friday, as part of the Lenten season, just before the beginning of Holy Week.
Parish priest
Fr Shantappa Borker, Fr Philip Kutty, Fr Kustas Lima, Fr Pramod Kumar and other
priests took part in the service.
There is a historical relevance for the Cross on the hill at
Nandgad. In 1920, when people were suffering from a plague, a priest from the
village came to this hill and celebrated Mass. There is a belief that for
generations, the prayer said by the priest had yielded positive results. Since
then, people from the neighbouring states too travel to the Miraculous Cross
with their hopes and petitions.