OLD GOA: Eyes moistened and voices faltered as the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier emerged from the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa a little after the noon hour on Saturday.
For the thousands of devotees and religious who had come to Old Goa for the inaugural of the XVII Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, it was a moving experience as they joined in the procession taking Sacred Relics from the Basilica, where they are permanently housed, to the Se Cathedral where they will be kept for public veneration till January 4.
The former capital of Goa was awash with priests, nuns and devotees from all over Goa and different parts of India who had come to participate in the Mass.
There were religious from different religious orders, both priests and nuns – Franciscan and Carmalite friars in their distinctive cassocks with their cowls and the nuns each in their habits and sarees – mingling with devotees from South and North, families from Goa and different parts of India, each distinct in their dress and behaviour but united in their faith in St Francis Xavier as shown by their presence.
It was as Bishop of Mangalore, Aloysius D’Souza, the main celebrant at the pontifical high Mass, said, “an occasion to bear witness to our faith and be inspired to life the same faith.”
Bishop D’Souza concelebrated the Mass along with Bishop John Thomas of Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop-Emeritus Raul Gonsalves and Rector of the Basilica Fr Savio Baretto.
In his homily, Bishop D’Souza spoke about the extraordinary man and the extraordinary deeds of the man known as ‘Goencho Saib’, his life and his beliefs.
Making references to the life of the Basque Saint who had all material goods that he could have wanted and was looking at a bright future in the conventional sense till he met St Ignatius of Loyola, leading him to question the life he was leading and instead chose to lead a life as an evangeliser, at the other end of the world.
“When you visit the body of Francis, what do you feel? Remember, it is the same body which lived in our land five centuries ago. The same feet which walked our streets and paths, the same hands which served us and administered sacraments, the same tongue and mouth which preached the Gospel and praised God, the same heart in his body, the heart that felt compassion and mercy, the same eyes which looked with kindness,” Bishop D’Souza told a packed audience that included people from different parts of India and even the world.
Concluding his sermon, Bishop D’Souza said that St Francis Xavier became a great missionary and was known as the patron of missionaries. He prayed that this Exposition would inspire young people to become Evangelizers of the Church, just like St Francis Xavier.
Earlier, Archbishop Ferrao welcomed the dignitaries and the gathering. “The theme of this whole ecclesial event is ‘Faith Creates Communion, Strengthens Family, Commissions to Renew the Society.’ Each day we shall be reflecting on different aspects of our life, related to this theme, with the help of God’s Word. Let us pray that this whole spiritual event may be of genuine benefit to our lives,” he said.
