Novenas of St Francis Xavier get underway today
TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: Hectic activity was witnessed at the Bom Jesus Basilica, as the nine-day novena and feast of St Francis Xavier get underway on Sunday.
Speaking to Herald, Basilica Rector Fr Savio Barretto, who was personally supervising all the arrangements, informed that this year they were slightly behind schedule as the main focus was on the organisation of the recently concluded 1st National Convention of Small Christian Communities outside the Basilica. Workers and volunteers were working overtime till late evening to complete the arrangements.
Though Fr Barretto expressed satisfaction with the overall preparation for the novena and the feast, he felt that more infrastructure was necessary to cater to the needs of thousands of people attending the novena and masses everyday. “However, our hands are tied as developmental activities cannot be undertaken here as it is a heritage monument and permission from the ASI is compulsory,” Fr Barreto stated. “Our efforts to have a pilgrim centre, which will cater to the needs of pilgrims, has failed to yield results.”
“I have knocked the doors of the past governments with no success. We have now apprised Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of the matter,” said Fr Barretto.
Commenting on facilities for the pilgrims who are staying throughout the novenas and the feast inside the Basilica, Fr Barretto informed that the facilities provided are the bare minimum and more needs to be done.
“The ASI should be aware that besides this being a heritage monument, it is also a religious monument, and the needs of the pilgrims have to be taken care of,” Fr Barreto said.
“‘Goemcho Saib’ is a popular saint not only in Goa, but also in India and the world. We have plans to introduce more masses in other Indian languages like Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, in the near future, to cater to the needs of the devotees thronging Old Goa from outside the State. However, the Konkani masses will remain unaffected,” assured Fr Barreto.
Meanwhile, several devotees have made the Basilica their second home and they will be staying at the Basilica throughout the novena and the feast.
One such devotee, Emelian Monteiro of Bastora-Mapusa, occupied one corner inside the Basilica, where she will be staying for the next ten days.
Speaking to Herald, Emelian said that it is a tradition in her family to stay in the Basilica for the novena and the feast and she has followed the tradition since childhood. Asked why she has been following the practice, Emeliana replied, “It is for my own good health and that of my entire family.”
