The theme of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier centered on faith.
And in a veritable expression and exposition of faith, hundreds of thousands of devotees, pilgrims, tourists and others venerated the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier during the 44-day long Exposition that ended on Sunday.
They came every day, from all over the State, from across the country and even from various parts of the world. They came in ones, twos, threes or groups.
They came in vehicles or walking many miles and across borders or in wheelchairs and they filed past the relics of their favorite saint, touching their hands to the crystal urn and then bringing it to their lips. Many then spent more time in the Se Cathedral, praying silently in the presence of the relics of the saint.
The others participated in the programs and exhibitions in Old Goa. This was the faith that the people displayed during the past few weeks.
For the Church in Goa, that awaits this Exposition as a means to revive the faith of the people, this manifestation of the faith would surely be something to be thankful for.
The Church has witnessed it first hand, what now remains is making certain that this same measure of faith is maintained in the coming months and years.
The exposition may have ended, but for the Church, the task is not yet over. It has just begun. The seed that the Exposition Committee has sowed will now have to be harvested.
The Exposition Committee may be wound up soon, so it will for the other bodies of the Church to make the harvest, and they have little time to let that seed grow before they begin their work in the vineyard.
A seed needs nourishment to grow and that is what the Church bodies will have to give to the faithful.
St Francis Xavier, or the Goencho Saib, as he is more fondly known in Goa, has always drawn the Goans to his side. This exposition was no exception.
He has always been able to bring them to his feet, in particular every year for the novenas that begin in November and his feast on December 3, and even on other ordinary days of the year when people, in their hundreds, come to the Basilica and silently lift their petitions to him.
These last few weeks, they have come in larger numbers and it may not have been easy for many of the devotees. Many stood in long queues, but there were few complaints from the people about the organisation.
Hardly any of the millions of people that went to Old Goa in the past 44 days complained about anything. It was all part of the experience of faith, and if there was anything to grumble about they kept quiet and took it as their sacrifice for the Saint.
But, and rather importantly, it was not just people from the Catholic faith that proceeded to Old Goa and stood in long queues to venerate the relics, but there were a number of people of other faiths that also made this journey of faith in their thousand.
Many of them went to Old Goa more than once and talked about it. They didn’t do it in hiding. And there were many others who, not of the Catholic faith, were also involved in ensuring that the exposition was held and held successfully.
At a time when in various parts of the country there are communal disturbances, when there are calls for ‘Ghar Vapasi’, when there are anti-conversion bills being considered, can the unity of faiths that this exposition illustrated and underlined in Goa be taken and spread as an example all over the country?
This is not something just for the Catholic Church to consider. It may have been a Catholic event, but this is something that every secular-minded individual in Goa should be proud of and also think about telling the rest of the country.
The exposition may have just ended but there is much more that needs to be done to keep the faith and unity of the people alive.
(This appeared as the editorial in the Herald newspaper, Goa)