‘The spirit of SFX still among us’
“We are gathered here as pilgrims from different parts of our country and abroad to witness this extraordinary event of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. We thank God for the gift of this great missionary saint to the Universal Church in general and to the Church in India and Goa in particular,” said Bishop of Mangalore, Rev Aloysious D’Souza, who along with Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao concelebrated the Pontifical High Mass that began the solemn decennial Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as the ‘Goencho Saib’.
Devotees from across India – South Indian men and women in their finery, people from North and the North East, from all over Goa, priests, friars, nuns in their distinctive habits all down in Old Goa to venerate the relics of a man who lived five centuries ago. But as Bishop Aloysious said, his presence is still overpowering.
“I do not feel Francis has gone away from us. His Spirit is still among us, with us,” said the bishop, adding that by our veneration of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, may our faith in God be strengthened, … and may our love for our neighbour be abiding.”
Given that this Exposition is expected to be the largest of its kind since the public Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier first began in 1782, there was unprecedented security – including more than a hundred CCTVs and watch towers.
The Relics were taken in procession from the Basilica of Bom Jesus, where they are housed permanently, to the nearby Se Cathedral. The Relics will be kept for veneration till January 4, 2015.
There will be masses in foreign and Indian languages that are already scheduled during the Novenas (prayers offered for nine days) from November 24 to December 2, 2014, Convener of the Exposition Committee Fr Alfred Vaz said.
