Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Panaji, April 16, 2025: Christians in Goa are reminded to celebrate and observe the real meaning behind the Holy Week customs and traditions, rather than following them superstitiously, as the Church began Holy Week on Apri 13.

In his editorial in Renovacao, the bi-monthly of the Archdiocese of Goa –Daman, Fr Aleixo Menezes, Parish Priest of St John the Baptist Church, Benaulim reminded, “Traditions are good, but outdated and meaningless traditions can become more of a display and exhibition of the past than a real expression of faith and devotion.”

The former rector of Rachol Seminary, Goa, explained, “The Portuguese missionaries, to make Catholic Faith more appealing and understandable to the people of the land who had embraced the faith recently, introduced certain practices, which down the history, became customs and traditions, some being followed without meaning or reason.”

According to Fr Menezes, “On Palm Sunday people are more concerned about getting a blessed palm leaf than reflecting on the jubilant entry of Jesus and the subsequent Passion.” Reminding the faithful about protecting the environment he suggested, “Removing the tender leaf of the coconut tree, it harms tree. Hence, to protect the nature and environment, the people should be conscientised to bring a branch of any tree.”

He even suggested, “to change the name ‘Palm Sunday of the Passion of Christ’ in the Liturgical Calendar to “Branches Sunday” so that the leaf is not important but the meaning is important in the celebration.

He also gave the example of Santos Passos (Holy Steps) observed in many parishes of Goa on Good Friday which according to him has become “unfortunately a sort of traditional devotion for certain members of the parish, often assuming more importance than the Liturgical service. Many faithful reach the Church for the Liturgical service late and join only for the Santos Passos.”

Fr Menezes also requested in his editorial “not to inconvenience the public when the church hold processions, impeding the smooth flow of transport.”

He reminded, “When we inconvenience the public the purpose of our Lenten processions — repentance, forgiveness and charity—is defeated.”