Panaji: The novenas and feast of St Francis Xavier are going to be a digital experience this year.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the novenas for the feast of St Francis Xavier – which commence on November 24 – will not be open for people at the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Instead, the Masses will be streamed online live and telecast on some local channels.
The veneration of the relic of the saint will, however, be allowed. The feast of St Francis Xavier will be celebrated on December 3.
“Due to Covid-19, the novena Masses will not be open for public at the Basilica,” Church authorities said, adding that all Masses will be live on their official website www.bomjesus.org and their YouTube channel, as well as on some local channels.
From November 24 to December 2, Masses at the Bom Jesus Basilica will be celebrated at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am (English Mass) and 5 pm. On the feast day, the Mass will be held at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am (English) and High Mass at 10.30 am.
The church will also organize Masses in various Indian languages daily at 6 pm from November 24 to December 3. The languages include Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, French, Italian, Telugu, Portuguese, Marathi, Kannada and Spanish.
Every year thousands of devotees attend the novena Masses at the basilica in Old Goa, while on the feast day, faithful from across world throng the church.
After almost six months, churches at the world heritage complex in Old Goa were re-opened in September for the faithful, beginning with the Se Cathedral.
Source: heraldgoa.in