PANJIM: The annual feast of Saint Francis Xavier will be celebrated on December 3, at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa. The 9-day Novena to Saint Francis Xavier will get underway from November 24 to December 2.
The novena masses will be celebrated in the morning at 6, 7.15, 8.15, 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30. The evening masses are at 3.45, 5.15 and 6.15. On November 28 and December 2, an additional mass will be celebrated at 5 a.m. However, no mass will be celebrated at 10.30 a.m. on November 25 and 30. But on November 30, the 11.30 a.m. mass will be celebrated at 12.30 p.m. soon after the inter-religious meet. The novena mass will be celebrated daily at 8:15 a.m.
This year the parishes of Navelim, Paroda, Calangute, Candolim, Penha Da Franca, Bicholim, Cansaulim, Aldona, and Nagoa-Salcete will celebrate the novena mass on their respective days.
Besides Konkani, masses will also be celebrated in English - everyday at 6.15 p.m;
Marathi - November 27, at 11:30 a.m; Tamil – November 28, at 11:30 a.m; Malayalam - November 28, at 12:30 p.m; Hindi - November 28, at 2.30 p.m; Portuguese – December 1, at 11:30 a.m.
The Archbishop-Patriarch of Goa and Daman, Filipe-Neri Ferrão, will celebrate a mass for priests and vocations on November 28 at 3.45 p.m; a mass for the sick will be celebrated on December 2 at 3.45 p.m.
Special masses for Couples for Christ on November 28, at 9:30 a.m. the Pilar Society – December 1 at 5:15 p.m. Charismatic Renewal – December 2 at 9.30 a.m and the Goa Jesuits on December 3 at 6 p.m.
An inter-religious meet for peace and communal harmony through dialogue will be held on November 30, at 10:30 a.m. Leaders of different religious communities will address the gathering which is expected to be attended by a cross-section of society.
The Feast of St Francis Xavier will be celebrated on December 3, with a Solemn
High Mass at 10:30 a.m. The main celebrant for this year will be Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai. Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop-Patriarch Emeritus Raul Nicolau Gonsalves and Bishop Aleixo Dias, Bishop of Port Blair will concelebrate at the feast mass.
During the day, masses will be celebrated at 4 a.m. 5 a.m. 6 a.m. 7 a.m. 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. (English).
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be administered daily from November 24 to December 2, between 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Sacristy of the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
St. Francis Xavier, the Saviour of Goa. Bless Goa and Goans everywhere, through the whole World, wherever they are. Bless us all.
ReplyDeleteSave Goa from the present state of affairs. Do not allow the looters to finish off Goa and turn into rubble.
Goencho Saib, you loved us, love us and save us. Amen.
St Francis Xavier is a highly revered Saint amongst Goans and other Indian states, of all faiths....Christians,Hindus,Muslims,Sikhs.
ReplyDeleteHe also is highly revered around the world.I hope Goa`s Corrupt and notorious Politicians will take a leaf from his,teachings works and deeds, to serve Goa and its citizens.
Naguesh Karmali, a fake freedom Fighter may not be too keen on this Foreign Saint or even that other foreigner Mother Theresa or St Thomas,...but who cares about Karmali.He is just a minnow and a plain form of low-life form.
A very important feast. By God's grace I will be there this year again. I am going down specially for this feast. I have prayed to the Goincho Saib and have received favours from him. So this feast I never miss and have never missed. I will be in Goa for the feast with my family.
ReplyDeleteShyam... PRay for all of us too when you attend the feast. due to work related matters, I will miss the feat just by a week. Keep all of us in your mind when you are there. Wish you and your family a Very Happy Feast in advance.
ReplyDeleteST. Francis Xavier's feast is one of many Goan religious feasts, every True Goan Hindu, Christian and Muslim look forward to celebrating. I am sure almost every Goan will pray for a better future in Goa, free from crime and corruption.
ReplyDeleteThere are a crowd of Hindus and Muslims coming to the feast of the great Saint of Goa. There is no denial of that Diogo. I myself used to go for the feast, listen to the Mass, pray there and come back. If you go there during the novena days and on the feast day you will find Goan hindus, as well as outsider hindus coming to see the saint. I do agree with Shyam and Nfernandes about what they say.
ReplyDeleteTruly said, all the niz goenkars, the hindus, christians and the muslims from all over Goa come for the feast of Goencho Saib. They pray for his blessings and light candles to him. There is no denial that Goencho Saib protects Goa and this can be told by any Goan irrespective of his religion.
ReplyDeleteWe all anxiously await for this great feast every year. It is our tradition that each and every household has to make this annual pilgrimage to Old Goa to seek the blessings of our patron Saint St. Francis Xavier without whose presence and protection, we do not have anything to be concerned for. It is a matter of importance and significant to all the Goans and other devotees irrespective of religion, caste or creed to pray to him. St. Francis intercede and pray for us.
ReplyDelete