ST FRANCIS XAVIER - Pearl of the Orient

Goa is preparing for the celebration of the 450th anniversary of the death of "Goemcho Saib", St. Francis Xavier on December 3 at Old Goa pilgrim centre. The theme is "Francis, the path setter of building communities around Jesus". The church hasn't organised a grand celebration, preferring to lay more stress on spiritual preparation rather than on ostentatious, outward festivity.

Thousands of devotees attended the first novena on November 24. The massive shamiana erected in Bom Jesus Basilica compound was practically packed for every Mass from 6.00 am to 6.15 pm. Thousands more will attend this year's feast, to be celebrated on December 3, as ordered by Pope Alexandre VII on September 22, 1663.

Nearly 15 Archbishops and Bishops from different parts of the country will be present for the concelebrated High Mass on the day of the feast, the most patronised one in Goa. Cardinals Simon Pimenta and Ivan Dias, both from Mumbai, will be present too, while the main celebrant will be Goa's Archbishop Raul Gonsalves, for the last time because he will retire in March next on achieving the age of 75 years.

Under the guidance of Fr Delio Mendonca, the Xavier Centre of Historical Research will release a souvenir containing plenty of photographs and pictures of postage stamps issued during the Portuguese rule depicting St. Francis Xavier. Moreover, a special exhibition or a museum is likely to be set up by the Jesuits at Porvorim.

For a brief biography go to http://www.goanvoice.ca/2002/issue3/features.htm#sfxbiography

SECURITY: After the bombscare at the Bom Jesus Basilica, which sent the police into a tizzy recently, the security at OId Goa, particularly around the Basilica, has been beefed up.

SEMINAR ON ST FRANCIS XAVIER: The Jesuits of the Goa province, in collaboration with the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Alto Porvorim, have organised a seminar on "In the Footsteps of Francis Xavier: Jesuits in India", at the Centre on December 7 and 8.

TRAFFIC DIVERSION: In view of the ongoing novenas for St Francis Xavier's feast at Old Goa, the stretch of the road from the main junction at Old Goa upto Old Goa Police station will remain closed for all vehicular traffic. The vehicles proceeding towards Ponda on reaching the main junction, shall take a left turn to take the road behind Se Cathedral-Arch of Conception-Petrol pump. The vehicles coming from Ponda towards Panaji on reaching Old Goa police station, shall take a left tun so as to proceed via Neura junction-road behind Bom Jesus Basilica church-main junction and further to their respective destinations.

Editor: Joel D'Souza