Feast of St Francis Xavier celebrated

at Old Goa
Posted on 2008-12-04
NT NETWORK
PANAJI- Tens of thousands of devotees from around the world, including the neighbouring states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, on Wednesday flocked to Old Goa to take part in the feast of St Francis Xavier, famous as the patron saint of Goa.
The feast was celebrated with traditional pomp and religious fervour, but under tight security arrangements.
The high mass had three bishops, with the Archbishop Rev Blasco Colaco, former Nuncio of South Africa, as the main celebrant and Archbishop Rev Felipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop Emeritus Rev Raul Gonsalves as co-celebrants Also among the co-celebrants were the Rector, Fr Savio Barreto, Vicar General, Fr Jose Remedies and at least another 100 priests from different parts of the country.
In his homily, Archbishop Blasco deliberated on the life of St Francis and stressed that St Francis was open to meeting different type of people. And in the same way people from different religions are also coming to meet and have trust in him.
"We genuinely need to follow St Francis to try and find peace in the present time," he said.
"We should all contribute in whatever state of life we are so as to make the name of Jesus known," he argued.
Priests cautioned devotees to be more aware of the surroundings and to report any miscellaneous objects to the nearest constable, probably as a consequence of the recent terror strikes.
The feast culminates with the novenas beginning from November 24.
This time the feast, held under strict security cover, had armed police guarding almost all points with all entry and exit points sealed with metal detectors and no one was allowed inside unchecked. According to the police, higher-ups plainclothes policemen were present all over the place. Watchtowers and close circuit TVs were put up to monitor all activities.
Also, apart from the state police personnel, two companies of the Central Industrial Security Force were deployed near the church.
Notwithstanding this, devotees had lined up outside the Basilica to seek St Francis’s blessings. However, reports indicate that probably the number were less this year.