Exposition of St Francis Xavier’s relics: The spiritual event begins on November 21, 2024

Team Herald 

PANJIM: The decennial Solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as “Gõycho Saib”, will commence on November 21, 2024 and conclude on January 5, 2025. 

Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman issued a special decree to announce the spiritual event, which draws millions of people from across all over the world.  

The decree states: “In conformity with a long-standing practice, followed in this Archdiocese of holding Solemn Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier every 10 years, we determine that the Solemn Exposition be held in 2024, beginning on Thursday, November 21, 2024, and ending on Sunday, January 5, 2025”. 

A special Committee to deal with the matters of the Solemn Exposition has also been appointed by the Archbishop. The Committee comprises lay men and women, religious sisters and priests.

The decennial spiritual event gives the faithful an opportunity to reflect on the “faith journey” of St Francis Xavier and to emulate his zeal for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St Francis, a man of knowledge and expertise, fame and rank, is a constant reminder that nothing has the power to affect change as much as love and compassion. His noble life and his abiding presence among us are an aide-mémoire that it is only a personal encounter with Christ that makes us his true disciples, states a release issued by Fr Barry Cardozo, Director of Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Goa.

This time, the Archbishop has announced the Exposition two years in advance keeping in mind a two-fold purpose: firstly, to step up the renewal of Christian life at all levels in the Archdiocese, and secondly, to give sufficient time for the pilgrims to plan their journey, the release states further. 

The Exposition will be the culmination of a spiritual journey, a journey of renewal and of hope to be undertaken by every individual, every family, every parish and the entire Church in Goa and Daman. 

It is not only the event but the journey leading to the event that is important. The universal Church is preparing for a “Synod on Synodality” and also for the Jubilee Year 2025.  For the Catholic faithful in Goa and Daman, the upcoming Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier is a God-given opportunity to learn to walk together as pilgrims of hope. The two years of spiritual preparation leading to the Exposition will focus on walking with the poor and the marginalised, walking with people of all faiths and cultures and walking in harmony with creation, the release adds.