Team Herald
GOA VELHA: Parish priest of St Andrew’s Church, Goa Velha, Fr Emidio Pinto said the faithful are called to follow the example of saints and in turn become saints one day.
People from different walks of life flocked the venue till dusk to have a glance of the life-size statues taken out for procession. Many faithful gathered to seek favours, while others were present as a sign of gratitude for petitions received through different saints.
In his homily at the Eucharistic celebration to mark the annual Procession of Saints, Fr Pinto said that after death although the bodies of saints return to dust, he reminded that their souls are united with God.
“Where is God?” the parish priest questioned the congregation, and said that when we say ‘Emmanuel’, it means God with us. “Wherever we may be, God is always with us and along with God, all the saints are with us,” he reminded.
“The saints teach us how to live in faith and as they did the will of God throughout their lives, we need to follow them,” Fr Pinto said. “Today, all the saints are enjoying the glory of God and praising God all the time. God is always pleased by our praises and we need to continue showering our praises on Him all the time,” he added.
Speaking about the saints, Fr Pinto mentioned that those who lived in union with God on earth did not become saints after Pope’s declaration. “Instead, they all were saints when living their simple life on earth, like St Teresa of Calcutta,” he said.
Fr Pinto reminded that all are called to be saints and when God is love, those who live in union with God in this world are saints. He said on the day of baptism all were chosen by God to be part of priestly, prophetic and kingly ministries in His kingdom.
“The role of a prophet is to lead and preach God’s word and spread goodness. And to fulfill God’s plan, he said that each one of us has the Holy Spirit, who is God himself. “Those who are filled by the power of the Holy Spirit are God’s children.”
The parish priest stressed the need to know the Holy Spirit more intensely, that He is within us and we all need to listen and follow Him. “Forgiveness is possible by the help of the Holy Spirit,” he said and added that “He gives us the power to overcome temptations.”
Fr Pinto said, “Those who trust God will do same works as God has done and even greater than these. We are filled with power of God and that power is Holy Spirit. And when that power moves out, miracles happen.”
Citing examples of St Joseph Vaz and St Francis Xavier, Fr Pinto said saints were able to perform miracles as they were in union with God. He said, “When we commit our lives to Jesus, He does miraculous things in our lives.”
