By Matters India Reporter
Panaji: Jesuit provincial of Goa Father Roland Coelho on December 3 urged Catholics to stand with the poor and the voiceless. He was speaking at the Mass on the feast of St Francis Xavier at Bom Jesu Basilica, Old Goa.
The Catholic Church observes December 3 as the feast of the apostle of the Indies. It was on this day in 1552 that Saint Francis Xavier died on Shangchuan Island in the Chuanshan Archipelago on the southern coast of Guangdong, China.
For the first time in 400 years, Bom Jesu Basilica kept people away on the feast day because of Covid-19 restrictions and televised Masses for people to participate virtually from their homes.
Bom Jesu Basilica rector Jesuit Father Patricio Fernandes had informed devotees that they would not be allowed to attend Masses. The basilica allowed only 200 people for the feast day Mass celebrated by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa, as per the MHA guidelines. One representative was allowed from each parish.
However, devotees were permitted to venerate the saint’s relics kept in a casket in the basilica.
The Jesuit provincial exhorted the gathering to become “By walking in the footsteps St Francis Xavier, Goenco Saib (protector of Goa), let us become true witnesses,”.
According to him, Francis Xavier was named patron saint of missionaries because of the Spaniard’s inspiring life and witnessing Christ in faraway places such as Japan.
The provincial called on Catholics to let Christ’s love transform them. “Let us be filled with the fire of the love of Christ for all people. Witness that love of Christ in our dealing with others.”
Turning to current social issues, Father Coelho urged them to become prophetic witnesses during the Covid-19 pandemic and stand with people irrespective of their religion.
“Stand with people who are trying to protect environment in Mollem, South Goa. Stand with the farmers who are protesting in Delhi because their rights have been taken away from them.”
The provincial urged people support Jesuit Father Stan Swami and other political prisoners, who have been fighting for the rights of tribals, Dalits, and downtrodden, stand with the voiceless.
The provincial wants young people to become bold to say yes to God, as Saint Francis had done as a university student in Paris. “He calls the weak and makes you strong,” he added.
In his message, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said, “Goinchea Saibche fest is celebrated by people of all faiths spreading the message of oneness, strengthening the social fabric, and bring prosperity to all communities in the state.”
According to Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavelkar, “Feats of St Francis Xavier is one of the biggest celebrations of the Christian community in the state. He said, “The patron Saint of Goa is venerated across religions. I pray to St Francis to shower his choicest blessings on all Goans and protect us from the pandemic.”
A customary practice associated with the feast is people walking to the basilica for the novena of S Francis Xavier. Some would walk on all nine days and calim healings in their lives through the saint’s intercession.
Jesuit Fr Joseph Monteiro working in the missions had been accompanying pilgrims on the walking pilgrimage for ten years. “Many of them who have been afflicted by illnesses and problems in the family have experienced healing. It has also helped in their spiritual growth. Many people of other faiths also would join in such pilgrimages as they believed in the blessing received through St Francis Xavier,” Father Monteiro said.
Prakash Carvalho from Ajra has been a part of the yearly pilgrimage to Old Goa for 40 years. “We would leave on November 28 and reach on December 2 in Old Goa. Priests who accompany us would provide us with spiritual support,” he said.
The environment problem in Mollem came to limelight after thousands of Goans protested in early November the state government’s move to expand the railway network between Margao, the main railway station in Goa, and Sanvordem, for coal transportation to Karnataka.
Local people claim the expansion would destroy the state’s ecological biodiversity and fill the air with coal dust.
Despite the existing infrastructure, the Goa government is looking to speed up the transportation process by introducing three major infrastructure projects, ignoring people’s protests.
Demonstrators occupied railway lines after the authorities started work on doubling the tracks as Goa acts as an important link Karnataka.