The much-anticipated feast of Goa’s Patron Saint Francis Xavier is set to take place on December 4 with the erection of the maddi on November 24 at 6:00 pm. The novenas, a prelude to the feast, are scheduled to commence on November 25 and run daily until December 3, from 6:00 am to 6:15 pm.
Traditionally celebrated on December 3 each year, this year's festivities will see a special adjustment. Due to December 3 coinciding with the first day of Advent, the St. Francis Xavier Feast for 2023 will be observed on December 4 instead.
Masses on the feast day are slated to begin at 3:45 am, followed by masses at 5:00 am, 6:15 am, 7:30 am, and 8:45 am. The Feast Mass, a grand celebration will begin at 10:30 am. Additional masses will be held at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm. The day will conclude with an English mass at 6:00 pm.
Daily masses will be held regularly at 6:00 am, 7:15 am, 8:30 am, 9:45 am, 11:00 am, 3:30 pm, 5:00 pm, and 6:15 pm (English).
With devotes coming to seek blessing from across the country and the world, masses will be held in various languages, on Sunday, November 26, there will be special services in various languages, with a Tamil mass at 11:00 am, followed by a Malayalam mass at 12:15 pm, and a Hindi mass at 2:00 pm. On Saturday, December 2, a Kannada mass is scheduled for 12:15 pm. Mass in Portuguese is scheduled for December 3 at 11:00 am and will conclude with a special Pilgrim Mass at 12:15 pm.