By Elvis Fernandes, Nirmala Carvalho
New Delhi, Nov 21, 2023: Devotees flocked to shrines dedicated to Venerable Agnelo in various places in India on his 96th death anniversary.
“Venerable Agnelo is an inspiration for Catholics in their journey of faith,” said Cardinal Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, in his homily during the commemorative Mass on November 20 at Pilar hillock, 13 km southeast of Panaji, capital of Goa state.
Venerable Agnelo, a renowned 20th century preacher, confessor and administrator, was a member of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, a Goa-based religious congregation.
He died in 1927 at the age of 58. The Vatican has accepted the cause for his canonization and in 1986 declared him Venerable, the second stage in the four-phase canonization process.
“Venerable Agnelo, took Jesus as his model and strengthened his relationship with him through prayer and served the poor and the needy, thus became an inspiration in our journey of faith,” Cardinal Ferrao elaborated in his homily on the theme, “Walking together in the footsteps of Venerable Agnelo to our sanctification.”
Concelebrants included Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi, Emeritus Pilar Bishop Alex Dias of Port Blair, and Pilar superior general Father Nazareth Fernandes.
Cardinal Ferrão hailed Venerable Agnelo as a person who had strong communion with Jesus, love for Scripture, regular participation in the Eucharistic Celebrations and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He also highlighted the saintly priest’s role in imparting these values to his community.
He said one felt increased responsibility toward the needy and the impoverished when he or she experiences Jesus. The cardinal wants the faithful to extend their faith journey by embracing others as siblings, drawing inspiration from Venerable Agnelo’s altruistic service as a pastor in Siroda, Kumta and Sanvordem and spiritual guide at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol.
The Mass was preceded by novenas in English, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamil and languages from November 11. Many people of other religions too attended the nine-day prayers. People from Gujarat came in large numbers.
Bishop D’Souza said Father Agnelo had worked tirelessly for the people, encouraging his faithful to build family life, through prayer and encounter with God and sacraments, said Bishop D’Souza.
The prelate also encouraged people to walk with the poor as Venerable Agnelo had done.
Bishop D’Souza, who is also the chairman of the Office of Social Communications under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, urged people to become aware of the power of social media that can help, enable, inspire and transform. At the same time, it could also harm, degrade, enslave and even destroy by spreading falsehood, intolerance and violence, he added.
“Please accompany children and youth to become responsible consumers of digital media,” he pleaded.
In Goa, the Pilar superior general said devotees often inquire about the process of beatification, which he said is lengthy and a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable Agnelo and sent to Rome, is now studied by the doctors. He requested the devotees to pray unceasingly for Venerable Agnelo’s beatification.
Novena Masses, conducted in both Konkani and English, dedicating each day to intentions such as youth, family, priests and religious, children and vocation, civil leaders, mission, sick, environment, and laity. Masses were also conducted in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam.