By John Malvino Alfonso
Pilar, Nov 20, 2021: The canonization process of Venerable Agnelo, a 20th-century saintly priest of Goa, entered another stage after a favor received through his intercession was sent to Rome after the diocesan scrutiny.
This was announced at a function November 20 to celebrate the 94th death anniversary of Venerable Agnelo de Souza (1869-1927), a member of the Society of Pilar, or the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier.
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa-Daman, who presided over the Mass at the society’s headquarters, hailed Venerable Agnelo as a gift from God, who through prayer and the reading of the Bible showed people how strengthen their relationship with Jesus and love others.
Delivering homily on the theme, “To experience the presence of Christ in our Families: Venerable Agnelo, a Model” the prelate urged the gathering to imitate the priest’s example to show serve the poor.
Venerable Agnelo “generously and faithfully responded to God’s plan and became an example for us,” added the archbishop, who is also the president of Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
Pilar Society superior general Father Sebastião Mascarenhas, Fathers Tony Fernandes, vice postulator, Nazareth Fernandes, vicar general and Mateus Fernandes, the society’s Goa provincial, and 40 other priests concelebrated the Mass.
The day drew a large gathering this year with the easing of the coronavirus pandemic in the western Indian state. No stalls were allowed on the Pilar Hill in view of the pandemic.
Father Mascarenhas thanked the archbishop and expressed his joy over missionary vocation lived by Venerable Agnelo.
Father Fernandes, the vice postulator, told the gathering that a favor received through Agnelo’s intercession was sent to the Vatican after it was scrutinized by the archdiocese. He appealed the gathering to pray for Agnelo’s speedy canonization. He also thanked the archbishop for the support and cooperation.
“We have not done much publicity about this day’s celebrations in the parishes, but we are satisfied with the response of the faithful and devotees of Venerable Agnelo, who participated in the novena and feast day Masses,” Fernandes told Matters India.
He said they could accommodate only 800 devotees in the specially erected tent because of the Covid-19 restrictions. “I have experienced a calm and serene atmosphere at the Pilar hillock,” he said and added, the saintly priest “is just drawing people to himself even in this pandemic.”