MARGAO: The relics of St Anthony of Padua will arrive in Goa for the first time on March 2 from Bengaluru and will be kept for public veneration at the Alverno Friary of the Capuchin fathers at Monte de Guirim and at St Pio Friary, Navelim from where it will be taken to Singapore.
As the relics are the official property of the Government of Italy, the state administration is making the traffic arrangements as thousands are expected to venerate the relics given the fact that St Anthony’s is a popular saint in Goa.
Vicar Consular of the Capuchin fathers’ Goa province Fr Domingo Ferrao said they are thrilled to organise the public veneration of the relics of St Anthony in Goa.
The relics are of the first order as they consist of a part of the saint’s bust and a rib, informed Fr Savio Fernandes.
He pointed out that the church does back veneration of relics and explained that the Book of Genesis and Acts of Apostles have many passages relating to veneration of relics.
At the Averno Friary at Monte de Guirim, the worship will begin with a Mass at 6 am on March 2 followed by veneration from 7 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 9 pm. There will be Masses at 8 am and 6 pm. The veneration will continue on March 3 from 6 am to 10 am and will conclude with a Mass at 10 am following which the relics will be taken to St Pio Friary at Navelim.
The veneration will commence on March 3 at 3 pm and will continue till 9 pm.
On March 4, there will be a Mass at 6.30 am followed by veneration of the relics till 2.45 pm. The concluding Mass will be held at 3 pm following which the relics will be taken to Singapore.
Fr Gabriel Fernandes pointed out that in Goa there are churches and chapels dedicated to St Anthony. The various schools and shops run in the St Anthony’s name reflect his popularity in the State. He said that even today people pray to St Anthony to recover lost items.
Fr Paul Alvares recalled how St Anthony became a powerful preacher who preached not only to humans but even the fish and animals who listened to his word attentively.
Fr Domingo Ferrao said the Additional Collector Agnelo Fernandes is looking after the arrangements in Navelim and said the traffic will be totally managed by the administration with police playing a key role and urged the faithful to follow the instructions given by the officials.
“The traffic coming from Mandopa side will park near the Blasco centre area, while the vehicles from Cuncolim will be guided by the police on the available space,” he said.
“Venerating the relics at Guirim can be a pilgrimage and I would prefer if the faithful climb the hillock or even park their vehicles at the ground and take the steps to the friary on the hillock,” he said.
