Team Herald
PANJIM: The timings for the novenas and feast mass of St Francis Xavier was announced at mass held recently at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa by Rector Fr Patricio Fernandes, SJ.
Ten masses will be held daily for both the novenas and the feast day. These will be held in the pandal outside the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
The daily masses for the novenas will be held at 5 am, 6.30 am, 8 am, 9.30 am, 11 am, 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.15 pm.
On the feast day, December 3, masses will be held at 3.30 am, 5 am, 6.30 am, 8 am, 10 am (High Mass), 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.15 pm.
Details of the programme are to be shared at a later stage.
Emphasis will also be laid on the strict adherence and following of SOPs. For instance, those without masks will be denied entry while sanitisation and social distancing is mandatory. There will also be adequate spacing such as delayed entry and exit.
The public has been asked to cooperate with these rules.
The fair is also expected to mark its return at the novena and feast as the Old Goa panchayat is accepting submission forms for applications until November 9 for the erection of stalls at Old Goa between November 24 and December 4. There has been a condition put though that the process will be cancelled and erection of stalls not permitted if there is a surge in Covid cases.
