Team Goemkarponn
OLD GOA: Tens of thousands flocked to Old Goa in the early hours of Wednesday as the state celebrated the Feast of St Francis Xavier, its most iconic annual religious gathering.
Pilgrims streamed into the Basilica of Bom Jesus from midnight, waiting for the first morning prayers at 4 am. The solemn high mass was led by Goa and Daman Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Fr Simiao Fernandes.
This year’s celebrations placed a strong spotlight on inclusion. The nine-day Novena that preceded the feast featured a special “Jubilee of Persons with Disabilities,” which saw an overwhelming response.
Families and individuals with disabilities came together in large numbers, creating what organisers described as one of the most heartening moments of the Novena.
During the concelebrated mass, Fr Maverick Fernandes — who also delivered the homily — stressed the need to recognise different forms of disability and differentiate them from treatable mental health conditions.
Church spokesperson Fr Rosario Walter D’Souza said Fr Fernandes used the occasion to call for a cultural shift within parishes and society. He urged the faithful to uphold dignity, adopt respectful language, ensure accessible spaces, and offer genuine participation to persons with disabilities so they are fully included in community life.
The feast, which honours the patron saint of Goa, once again showcased the deep faith of Goans while advancing the Church’s message of compassion, equality, and inclusion.
