By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Panaji, September 2, 2019: More than 450 parishioners of Panaji’s Mary Immaculate Church on September 1 went on a cruise trip to Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa to keep alive a traditional thanksgiving pilgrimage.

“This is the 165th year of the pilgrimage. It is handed down to us from our grandparents,” says Emmanuel Fernandes, a member of the seven-member committee that organized the pilgrimage.

Fernandes told Matters India that the annual pilgrimage is organized on the first Sunday of September. Catholics go on a pilgrimage to offer a thanksgiving Mass in honor of Goa’s patron Saint Francis Xavier, the apostle of the Orient.

Asked about the pilgrimage’s origin, the 65 year-old layman smiled and said, “I really do not know the story behind this. I have gone with my grandfather from my childhood and later with my father.”

He said earlier they went by bus or by small boat to Old Goa, around 12 km northeast of Panaji. “As the year passed by the number of participants increased and now we hire a big boat like this,” Fernandes said pointing to the boat Royal Cruise that carried the pilgrims from Panaji to Old Goa through the Mandovi river.

The pilgrimage began at the parish, after the Sunday Mass. The pilgrims proceeded to the boat Jetty with the accompaniment of a brass band and a banner with the picture of St Francis Xavier leading the procession. The banner then adorned the boat, and people in other boats on the way bowed their heads in devotion. The cruise took 45 minutes to reach Old Goa.

A parishioner, who did not want to identified, said the pilgrimage offered her “an opportunity to see the much heard about casinos parked in the river. As we left the Jetty leaving behind the casinos, I felt it was an opportunity to pray for the enlightenment of those who own these casinos, which is destroying many local families.”

Inside the boat the pilgrims prayed the rosary with the accompaniment of music.

In his homily at Bom Jesu Basilica, parish priest Father Walter de Sa exhorted the faithful “to walk on the path shown us by Saint Francis Xavier proclaiming the Gospel in humility and humble service.”

Rafael Pereira, president of the Panjimites Welfare Society, expressed gratitude to the owner of the Royal Cruise for giving the parishioners heavy subsidy. “Every year they give it to us for a small amount (10,000 rupees). It waits at Old Goa to take us back.”

Pereira said the boat normally charges 42,000 rupees for an hour.

Explaining how they organize the event he said, “Prior to September we visit the families in Panaji and they contribute generously to this event. Besides the paying the boat fee we provide snacks to all pilgrims, contribute to the band and all who help us. At the Mass we offer flowers, coconuts and rice.”
Missionaries of Charity Sister Madalena appreciated people’s deep devotion and said, “I am very happy with this prayerful experience. Many have braved the pouring rain to join this thanksgiving pilgrimage.”

Anusha, a novice of the Daughters of St Paul, said the pilgrimage gave her “a kind of spiritual joy” as the boat traversed through the river waters.