One of the attractions of the feast of Epiphany is the enactment of the adoration of Baby Jesus by the Three Magi or the Three Wise Men that is celebrated on the 12th day of Christmas. Three parishioners in the churches in Reis Magos, Cansaulim and Chandor, dress as kings and take part in the solemn Feast Mass. Interestingly, the Vatican has granted special permission to celebrate this feast on January 6 itself to only these three parishes in Goa while the rest of the churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after Christmas
The Feast of Epiphany or Holy Magi (Three Kings) which will be celebrated on January 6 is the main Feast of the parish of Reis Magos Church in Bardez. Oswaldo Mendonça, a parishioner of Reis Magos Church, says, “During the earlier days, three young boys used to dress as Magi or Kings and participate in feast Mass and the procession thereafter. Each king would be accompanied by another small boy dressed as shepherd carrying small live goats, which has been since discontinued. Since over two decades, these men dress as kings and offer the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the crib in the church before the start of the Feast Mass.”
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This year, Jayson de Souza from Bhagivont Dumingacho Somudai, Kegdevelim ward, Allwin Nadar from Povitr Khursacho Somudai, Aforament ward and Bonny D’Souza from Povitr Atmeacho Somudai, Sonarbhatt ward will be dressing up as the Three Kings/Magi.
There will be two Masses, first Mass at 7 am celebrated by Fr Orlando Marques, parish priest of Reis Magos Church and the Feast Mass at 9.30 am with the main celebrant Fr Mariano D’Costa, director of Biblical Apostolate, Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Old Goa with the theme, ‘Vochat, Teg Vidvanamchi Dekh Gheun, Soglle Rochnnek Xubhvortoman Porgottat’. In the evening, ‘Sant Padre Pio’ by Prince Jacob will be staged at 7.30 pm in Church compound.
The Feast of Our Lady of Bethlehem and the Three Kings will be celebrated with religious fervour at Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Chandor on January 6. Fr Jean Da Cruz Fernandes, parish priest of Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Chandor says, “The Feast will be celebrated with Masses at 5 am, 6.30 am, 8.15 am and High Mass at 10 am. Fr Santana D’Souza, parish priest of Macazana Church will preach the Word of God at the first three masses. Auxiliary Bishop, Dr Simiao Fernandes will be the main celebrant and deliver the homily at the concelebrated high mass at 10 am.”
This year, three young boys who will dress as kings and ride the horse to the church will be Mavrick Antao, son of Mario and Pearl Antao of Anthoi, Guirdolim, Joydon Cardoso, son of Onastadio and Aveline Cardoso of New Township, Chandor and Brooklyn D’Costa, son of Joseph and Magret D’Costa of Moll 2, Guirdolim.
The Feast of Epiphany and the Feast of Our Lady of Remedios is celebrated on January 6 with a lot of devotion. The Feast of Our Lady of Remedios will be held with Masses, commonly known as the Three Kings Feast, will be celebrated on January 6 at Our Lady of Remedios Chapel in Cansaulim. “The Masses on the Feast day will be celebrated at 5 am, 6.15 am, 7.45 am, 8.30 am and 10.30 am. Fr Tomas Lobo, Episcopal Vicar, North Goa and parish priest of Aldona will be the main celebrant,” informs Fr Myron Barretto, Chaplain of St Lawrence Chapel, Arossim.
Three boys, each from Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim are chosen to represent the Three Wise Men who went to visit Jesus with gifts after his birth. The three boys chosen to be the kings this year who will arrive on horses are seven-year-old Cayden Correa of Arrosim, son of Candido Correa Simone Mascarenhas Regina Mundi High School, Chicalim, nine-year-old Ethan Maximilian Gracias of Cansaulim, son of Pritish Joseph Gracias and Chickeeta Pereira De Andrade and a student of Manovikas English Medium School, Margao and Aaron Francisco Xavier Fernandes of Cuelim, son of Avinash Savio Fernandes and Rebecca Amelia Alcasoas and student of Don Bosco, Panjim.
