St Anthony of Padua’s feast is marked with great zeal and devotion, captivating the spirits of the faithful. It holds a significant place in the Goan community, where devotion to the saint has been deeply rooted for generations. Churches and chapels dedicated to St Anthony across the state become focal points of vibrant celebrations on the feast day, drawing devotees from far and wide.
Although some parishes choose to celebrate the feast on the following Sunday, St Anthony’s feast is celebrated all over the world on June 13 to commemorate his death in 1231. On the Tuesday after St Anthony’s death, his body was transferred from Arcella to Padua and laid to rest in the chapel of Santa Maria Mater Domini. It was on this very Tuesday, that an exceptional series of miracles took place at his tomb. The sick who gathered there, fervently imploring his intercession, were miraculously healed. This remarkable event led the people of Padua to dedicate Tuesdays to St Anthony, a tradition that quickly spread throughout the Catholic church.
At Monte Guirim, St Anthony holds a special place as the patron of the school, boarding, and the Capuchin friars in Goa. In 2018, the relic of St Anthony was brought to Goa by the initiative of the Capuchin friars, drawing a multitude of people, even those who had never visited Monte Guirim before, to venerate it. A small relic of St Anthony was gifted to the Capuchin friars and ever since, is present at the Alverno Friary in Monte Guirim. This significant occasion led to the establishment of a weekly Tuesday devotion to St Anthony, temporarily interrupted by the pandemic but now reinstated under Fr Seville Antao’s guidance. The devotion, starting at 5.30 pm, attracts participants who gather to honour the saint and receive blessings on religious items. Devotees gratefully share accounts of favours and miracles granted through St Anthony’s intercession.
Albeyno Antao from Guirim testifies that in his family, the miraculous intercession of St Anthony has touched their lives in profound ways. Albeyno himself had a speech impediment and was unable to speak until the age of four. He shares, “But my mother was a firm believer in St Anthony, and she ardently prayed for my voice, and I began speaking. When the same happened to my two sons, we were shattered, but we had faith that they would be healed just as I was.” His elder son, Aldeno, was healed after a piece of the relic was touched to his mouth, and his younger son, Alden, found his voice within a week. The power of St Anthony’s intercession continues to be a source of inspiration and gratitude in their lives.
As this year’s feast day falls on a Tuesday, it holds an even deeper significance. It is an opportunity for believers to reflect on St Anthony’s life and the countless miracles that have unfolded in his name. The feast day on June 13th is set to be celebrated with great enthusiasm at Monte Guirim. The day’s events will commence with a silent adoration preceding the 6 pm mass, and it will conclude with the distribution of St Anthony’s bread.
Meanwhile, the parishioners of St Anthony Church at Siolim and St Anthony Chapel, Deussua, Chinchinim, are fervently preparing for the Feast which they will be celebrating on Sunday, June 18. The thirteen day Trezen marks the thirteen miracles performed by St Anthony. The Trezen commenced on June 6 and will end on June 17. ‘Deussua’s St Anthony’ is the helper and guide to all the needy and faithful. “People pray for various intentions such as finding jobs, achieving good grades, improving relationships, the gift of a child, successful surgeries, good health, etc. Many individuals experience miracles, and when their prayers are answered, they return to express their gratitude. These testimonies are shared by the priest during the Holy Hour before Mass on Tuesdays,” says Enola Pereira, who is an active youth member and a catechist. “Additionally, a significant number of youth visit the chapel in the evening, often after finishing work or attending college. This demonstrates the deep devotion, love, and faith of young people towards our patron saint, St Anthony”, she adds.
The neo-gothic style church of
St Anthony at Siolim, houses the only one-of-its-kind statue of St Anthony holding a serpent tied with a cord. The statue is a remarkable depiction of a miraculous event witnessed during the construction of the Siolim church in 1600. Troubled by a huge serpent that tormented and frightened the masons and disrupted the Rector who was overseeing the construction, they were almost compelled to abandon the site. However, inspired by divine providence, they devoutly prayed to St Anthony and placed his statue in a niche in the half-built Capela-Mor of the church, seeking his protection. To their astonishment, the following day, they discovered the snake encircling the statue, lying lifeless. This miraculous incident strengthened their faith and served as a testament to St Anthony’s powerful intercession. Even today the Siolcars fervently reminisce over the miracles that took place and are firm in their faith. “We eagerly await the Trezen and the feast of St Anthony! It is indeed a beautiful time to contemplate the life of this saint. My family and I participate in the choir during the Trezen, where we offer our intercessions to the patron, and through his powerful intercession, our petitions are granted,” claims Serilda Carvalho from Siolim Parish.
The feast of St Anthony also serves as a testament to the enduring power of faith, unity, and devotion. It brings together people from diverse backgrounds, transcending religious boundaries. Rupesh Naik, a Hindu residing in Portais, Panjim, also joins in the celebration of St Anthony’s feast. A long time ago, a Catholic family rented their house to Rupesh’s grandfather. The house already had a statue of St Anthony. Inspired by a dream, Rupesh’s ancestors decided to position the statue at the entrance of their house, creating a niche for it. Since then, for approximately 200 years, the Catholic community in the neighbourhood has gathered in June to organise and celebrate the Trezen and feast at their residence.
Rupesh states, “My family and I ensure that the preparations for the feast and Trezen are done well. Although we are of a different religion, we believe in St Anthony. He has guided and helped me in numerous ways.” Families from the neighbourhood take their turn to conduct the litany, and on June 1, the person responsible for the feast celebration on June 13 conducts the litany, as per tradition.
He recounts a miraculous event from 2021 involving Rosa Fernandes from Taleigao. Rosa was suffering from a severe stomach infection, as diagnosed by the doctors, and urgently required surgery. She made a special request to Rupesh and the Catholics of Portais to conduct a litany. On a Thursday, she conducted the litany and offered heartfelt prayers to the saint. Astonishingly, when she underwent a scan on the following Monday, the doctors were amazed to find that the infection had completely disappeared. Deeply moved by the intercession of St Anthony, Rosa expressed her gratitude by offering the feast mass in 2022. Overwhelmed with emotion, she tearfully shared her testimony with all those gathered.
During the feast, the statue of St Anthony is handed over to the person in charge of the celebration, and a procession accompanies it to the nearby chapel of St Francis Xavier while singing the hymn of St Anthony. The Feast Mass is celebrated by the priest. Rupesh mentions that even their Hindu and Muslim neighbours take part in the devotion, offering prayers and candles as a testament to their faith.