Thousands attend St Xavier novena

Thousands attend St Xavier novena
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
OLD GOA, NOV 24
Thousands of devotees from all over the State flocked to Old Goa to participate in the nine-day novena services in preparation for the feast of St Francis Xavier, which began at the Bom Jesus Basilica on Wednesday.
Devotees were seen in large numbers participating in the services, which began with the first mass in the pandal at 6 am, followed by masses at 7 am, 8.15 am, 9.30 and 10.30 am, 3.45 pm, 5.15 pm and 6.15 pm.
“We had a huge congregation for the first mass at 6 am, while the other masses throughout the day had a normal turnout,” Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica Fr Savio Baretto told Herald.
According to the Rector of Basilica of Bom Jesus Fr Savio Baretto, this year, the theme of the feast has been dedicated to Blessed Joseph Vaz, ‘Witnessing through Christian values into the footsteps of St Francis Xavier and Blessed Joseph Vaz.’
The Basilica Church would also hold masses at 5 am on Saturday and Sunday and on December 2 during the novenas due to huge crowd on these days.
This year, the feast mass will be concelebrated by Archbishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracious along with other priests from in and around the State.
When asked how things are being worked out for the next eight novenas, Fr Baretto said: “Today, there was a meeting with the Collector. Though I was unable to attend it, I had sent my representative who discussed shortcomings like problems of sanitation, toilets and especially the problem of challenged people, who were finding it difficult to move in and around Basilica campus.”
“My representative also asked the Collector to work on the garbage problem, which was seen lying everywhere during the novena’s and feast day,” added Fr Barretto.