Event is being held as curtain raiser to St Francis Xavier’s feast
TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: As a curtain raiser to the feast of St Francis Xavier, Goa will host its first National Convention of Small Christian Communities at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa from November 19 to 21.
The Convention will be a celebration of all the sustained efforts being put in by thousands of animators to promote Small Christian Communities during the past three-four decades.
About 80 bishops have already confirmed their participation, while 2,000 delegates from outside Goa and at-least another 4,000 from Goa are expected to participate in the convention.
On November 19, there will be inaugural Mass by Apostolic Nuncio, followed by talks by Archbishop-Patriarch Felipe Neri Ferrao and Bishop Bosco Penha, besides testimonies, buzzing, talk show and sharing of experiences, while on November 20, there will be programme at deanery and parish level.
On the concluding day, there will be talks by Bishops Thomas Dabre, Sebastian Adyanthrath and Elvin Colaco, testimonies, buzzing, sharing of experiences, expressions of community spirit, concluding message by Fr Thomas Vijay, Secretary of NST, Rally of SCC’s, and Eucharistic celebration by Archbishop Oswald Gracias, President of CBCI.
Speaking to Herald, Rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus Fr Savio Baretto said the Convention is a curtain raiser to the feast of St Francis Xavier. “The Convention will discuss issues about Christian life having small communities in the formation of small cells.”
“Preparations for liturgy for the feast of St Francis Xavier have already started and a meeting was held with various government officials to put things in order like proper sanitation, toilets, parking of vehicles, water facilities, etc.,” he said.
