FREDDY FERNANDES
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PANJIM: On December 3, lakhs of devotees are expected to converge on Old Goa to celebrate the feast of St Francis Xavier. Cardinal Luis Antonio G Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the dicastery for Evangelisation in Rome will be the main celebrant at the grand concelebrated feast Mass at the feast of St Francis Xavier in Goa. Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao and other Bishops and priests will join him at the Holy Eucharist.
Cardinal Antonio was received at Mopa airport by Cardinal Ferrao on Saturday.
The mass timings on the feast day are: 3.45 am, 5 am, 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 10.30 am (High mass in English), 12.15 pm, 3.30 pm, 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6.15 pm (English).
The Veneration of the relics of St Francis Xavier will continue at the Se Cathedral as usual from 7 am to 6 pm.
Pilgrims who have come from India and Goa are having a good experience at the Exposition.
Besides having a glimpse of the sacred relics, experiencing the aura of St Francis Xavier and receiving favours through the Saint, they say the arrangements for the Exposition this time have been very good right from the parking, sanitation and the queue system.
Francis Xavier, though originally from the Royal family of Navarre, Spain, educated in the University of Paris, was ordained a priest in Venice. He was converted by the words of Jesus, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world for himself but loses his soul,” as told to him by St Ignatius of Loyola, who along with St Francis Xavier became the founders of the Jesuit order.
Xavier came to India on a Papal Brief of his mission by King of Portugal John II. He arrived in Goa via Mozambique, on May 6, 1542, 482 years ago.
On November 21, 1552, he fell ill at Sancian island, while on his way to China and died on December 2, 1552.
On December 11, 1553 his body was brought to Goa. On March 12, 1622, Francis Xavier was declared a saint.
The first Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier was held in Goa was held in 1782, for three days between February 10 and 12.
The Exposition was held to dispel rumours that the Jesuits had taken the Saint’s body and left an empty casket behind.
It is only after 1964, after Liberation of Goa that Expositions began to be held every 10 years.
This is the 18th Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, one of the revered Saints of the Catholic Church, and the protector of Goa, affectionately known by all as Goencho Saib.
Maharashtra devotees on walking pilgrimage
Around 500 pilgrims from Our Lady of Rosary Church, Ajara, Maharashtra, Kolhapur, Sangli, Chandgad who have come on a walking pilgrimage to attend novena and pay their homage to the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier camped at night at Our Lady of Grace Church, Bicholim, on Sunday, and will leave early morning at 5 am on foot to Old Goa.
