TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: Thousands of devotees lined up along the path of the procession to catch a last glimpse of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, which will now remain in the Basilica for the next 10 years.
After a marathon 44 days, the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier ended on Sunday with the relics taken in procession from the Se Cathedral to the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Before the procession began, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao conducted a small religious ceremony inside the Se Cathedral – where the relics were kept – in the presence of Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, other bishops and priests.
The relics were then shouldered by priests and lay people as they wound their way back to the Basilica.
Later, a solemn mass was held at the pandal outside the basilica with the apostolic nuncio being the main celebrant.
In his homily, Archbishop Pennacchio spoke on faith, as the theme was ‘Faith commissions to renew family and society’.
“The central theme being faith, the feast of epiphany could be the highest expression of faith as the three wise men came from the east to worship the king of Jews. They expressed deep faith in the Saviour,” he said.
“Commenting on the journey of the Magi, Pope Francis said ‘Faith is a grace, a gift and it is up to us to share it through prayer, love and charity’,” Pennacchio preached.
Pennacchio further said that just like Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the Gospel, St Francis Xavier came to Goa and spread the Good News. “Saint Francis Xavier should be an example to us and we, having received faith, should try to preach the Word of God to others,” he added.
“Blessed Joseph Vaz, son of Goa and patron of Goa Archdiocese, will be proclaimed saint very soon. Fr Vaz went to Sri Lanka to preach the Good News and to revive the dying Catholic Church in that country. Pope John Paul II declared that Vaz was the ideal missionary from Asia. Fr Vaz is a marvelous example of the fruit of initial zeal of St Francis Xavier,” he said.
Apostolic Nuncio Emeritus Blasco Colaco, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes of Gandhinagar-Gujarat, Archbishop Oswald Luis of Jaipur-Rajasthan, Archbishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala-North East, Archbishop Allwyn Barretto of Sindhudurg, Monsieur Mauro Lali – counselor at Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi were the co-celebrants at the mass.
Archbishop Pennacchio also expressed his thanks to God for the opportunity to be in Goa. “Today, we are closing the ceremony but the spirit, zeal and joy of St Francis Xavier will be with us and let us share it in our community and at our workplaces,” he said while stating that everyone has gathered here not for a funeral but for a feast.
