Strengthen family bonds,Cardinal exhorts laity

Strengthen family bonds,Cardinal exhorts laity
HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, DEC 3
Archbishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracias on Friday called on the people gathered to celebrate the feast of St Francis Xavier to strengthen family bonds to overcome modern day crisis affecting the society.
“We need to be conscious of our responsibility as members of our families to strengthen our bonds as parents, brothers, sisters to overcome the crisis faced by modern society”, stated Cardinal Gracias.
“The world today is feeling the need for values, a need for the Gospel. There is need for evangelization and re-evangelization not only in the West but even for us here”, said the cardinal, who traces his roots to Orlim-Salcete.
“Many Jubilees held in Goa should inspire us to dedicate ourselves to the Gospel and the Spread of the Gospel”, stated Cardinal Oswald, recalling the 500 years when the first mass was celebrated in Goa on November 25, 1510, 400 years of the Rachol Seminary and 300 years of the death anniversary of Blessed Joseph Vaz.
He also sought the intersession of Goencho Saib, Blessed Jose Vaz and Venerable Fr Agnelo D’Souza so that families would be filled with God’s abundant blessings.
“Goa has been blessed. St Francis Xavier and his companions with great enthusiasm and fervour brought the faith to this beautiful land and the people of Goa. Our ancestors accepted and embraced Jesus gladly”.
“They have transmitted this faith to us and we are called to faithfully carry forward the mission which Jesus left to his followers”, said Cardinal Gracias.
“As we touch the Tomb of the great Apostle of Goa, let us ask the Lord to accompany us and our families in our daily living so that through the intercession of Goencho Saib, Blessed Jose Vaz and Venerable Fr Agnelo our lives may be filled with God’s abundant blessings and that we may be able to love Jesus, live Jesus and give Jesus to others”, he said.
Other concelebrants at the feast mass included Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop Emeritus Raul Gonsalves, Bishop Alex Dias of Port Blair, Andaman, Fr Jose Remedios Fernandes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman and Fr Savio Barreto, rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Earlier while welcoming dignitaries and the pilgrims, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao stated that “Our country and the world are in dire need for peace. Let us pray for peace and harmony in our homes and hearts as we pledge to build a new society of peace and harmony”.
A large number of priests, nuns and an estimated 15,000 people participated in the feast mass. The choir from the Azossim parish led the congregation in the hymns during the mass.
Among those political leaders present at the feast mass included Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and his wife, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, Forest Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues, St Andre MLA Francis Silveira and former chief minister Dr Willy D’Souza.
Besides the feast mass, others masses were celebrated at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 am and at 12.30, 4, 5 and 6 pm.
The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Witness to Christian Values in the Footsteps of Francis Xavier and Joseph Vaz’ (Fransisk ani Juze Vaz – Hanche Dekhin, Kristi Totvank Sakxi Dium-ya).