PANJIM: Describing St Francis Xavier as a great saint who attracts people of all religious traditions, Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrao on Monday also commended the initiative of the Herald Group for its XVII Exposition Commemorative Issue.
Archbishop Ferrao spoke after releasing the Herald Group’s commemorative issue in the Archbishop’s House in the presence of Herald Group General Manager Michael Pereira, Group Editor Sujay Gupta and Fr Loiola Pereira, secretary to the archbishop.
“St Francis Xavier is a person who attracts thousands and thousands of people despite the fact that he lived so many centuries ago. And this decennial Exposition becomes a privileged moment for many people not only to venerate his relics, but to encounter more closely this great saint who lived here, who walked here on the roads of Goa,” said Archbishop Ferrao.
“For us, as disciples of Jesus, this is a wonderful opportunity to renew ourselves, spiritually, to deepen our faith, to recommit ourselves to be witnesses to our faith, by our life of love, service, concern, justice and peace,” he said.
Describing the people of India as God-oriented, irrespective of religious affiliations, Archbishop Ferrao added: “It is no wonder that this great saint attracts people of all religious traditions who come here with great love, with great devotion, not only to venerate his relics but to encounter this great pilgrim who was on fire with the love of God and with a great desire to share this love with every human being.”
Archbishop Ferrao said he was happy to release the festive commemorative issue brought out by Herald Group on the occasion of the XVII Solemn Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier.
“I congratulate the management of Herald, the Editor and the editorial team for this wonderful praiseworthy initiative,” remarked Archbishop Ferrao. “I wish and pray that this Exposition may be a time of many blessings of God to all of us.”
The Herald Group’s XVII Exposition Commemorative Issue is a fascinating collection of articles and comments by bishops and experts on the life and times of St Francis Xavier, his veneration and canonisation, details on all 17 public expositions right from 1782 to 2014, fascinating trivia on St Xavier and his appeal across regions and religions.
The issue includes rare photos on the expositions in 1964 and 1974, photos, pictures and paintings depicting the life of the saint, other expositions and selected areas of the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
The special coverage also includes rare photos and recollections on the visit of Pope St John Paul II to the Basilica during a private Exposition in 1986.
The Herald Group’s XVII Exposition Commemorative Issue will be available at leading bookstores across the state and at Herald offices in Panjim and Margao.
