Team Goemkarponn
OLD GOA: As hundreds of followers gathered to commemorate the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, Old Goa awoke to a reverent and spiritual environment.
The festival this year is particularly noteworthy because it takes place during the XVIII Exposition of the saint’s holy remains, which turns the occasion into an amazing spiritual display.
With the first Mass at 3:45 AM, the day started well before the sun rose. Devotees had already filled the pandal outside the Basilica of Bom Jesus by this point. Even bigger audiences attended the next Masses at 5:00 and 6:00 AM, joining in devout hymns that created a serious yet joyous atmosphere.
Eleven priests celebrated a moving Mass at six in the morning. The principal celebrant gave a heartwarming account of how St. Francis Xavier’s trip to Goa started as an unplanned mission after another priest became ill. In the minds of the devout, however, this “accident” was transformed into a divine appointment, solidifying the saint’s legacy.
Devotees gathered in huge lines to view the revered remains of St. Francis Xavier as early as five in the morning. The fact that the line extended halfway from Gandhi Circle is evidence of the saint’s ongoing impact. The line went quickly despite the large number of pilgrims, giving everyone an opportunity to revere the relics.
Many people described kissing the holy coffin as a bizarre, once-in-a-lifetime experience that had profound spiritual meaning. The 40-minute drive from the main road to Se Cathedral seemed to some like a divine pilgrimage, with every step serving as a prayer and every instant serving as a link to the saint’s legacy.
Light rains fell in Old Goa at 7:25 AM, just as the 7:00 AM Mass was starting and pilgrims were still in line for their meditative march. The rain was seen by many as a divine gift and a gentle reminder of providence and grace. Fortunately, the paths leading to Se Cathedral were adequately covered, preventing the devotees from getting wet and guaranteeing that their spiritual journey would not be interrupted.
People go from all over the world to Old Goa for the Feast Day, which is a moment of unification. The ceremonies accommodate the pilgrims’ varied linguistic and cultural backgrounds by scheduling ten Masses throughout the day.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will preside over the High Mass at 10:30 AM, which is the day’s high point. He is accompanied by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa, Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes, and several priests from all around the world, representing the Church’s global reach.
