Goa set for exposition of St Francis Xavier’s relics

Goa set for exposition of St Francis Xavier’s relics 

Sakal Times Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Thursday, 20 November 2014 AT 01:22 PM IST

    

Goa, Saint Francis Xavier, relics, veneration, Bom Jesus Basilica, congregations

Old Goa (Panaji):Goa is set to receive lakhs of devotees for the exposition of relics of Spanish Jesuit St Francis Xavier, at Old Goa, starting on November 22.
Hectic activities including painting of centuries-old church buildings and erection of pandals and stalls are presently taking place at Old Goa, often called as the Rome of the East. This will be the 17th decennial exposition of sacred relics of St Xavier who preached Christianity in Goa and other parts of Asia in the 16th century.
The relics, which are permanently placed at a pedestal in Bom Jesus Basilica, will be open for veneration at the Se Cathedral, the largest church in Old Goa, for 44 days from November 22 to January 4.
A large number of Christians and people of other faiths from India and abroad are expected to visit Goa for the exposition, arranged by Goa government in association with the Goa Church. The government administration is presently busy raising special pandals to shelter the thousands of devotees waiting in long queues in front of Se Cathedral and Bom Jesus Basilica.
The rush of devotees is expected to be more during the novena prayers preceding the feast of St Xavier on December 3 and during the Christmas holidays and last four days of the exposition.
The Church has denied rumours that it will be the last time the sacred relics will be opened for veneration.
Vagator-based Sr Leena, belonging to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, told Sakal Times that nuns of various religious congregations in Goa will share their charism at the stalls in Old Goa during the exposition. The congregations will showcase their spiritual and various kinds of social works, to the visiting devotes.

Pilgrimage arranged for Puneites 
The Pune diocese, which has arranged pilgrimage tours for devotees, has said that accommodation at various church centres in Goa has already been booked well in advance. Coordinator Fr George D’Souza said that two buses carrying people from various parishes in Pune diocese will leave Pune for Goa on December 10 and 14. Some parishes in Pune have also arranged their own tours for the exposition, Fr D’Souza said.

Invite Pope to India, Pune Christians urge govt

Sakal Times
- CAMIL PARKHE Sunday, 27 July 2014 - 11:26 PM IST
Tags: Pope Francis, India, invite, United Christians, St Francis Xavier, relics

Pune: United Christians, a city-based organisation, has urged local MP Anil Shirole to intercede on behalf of local Christians and invite Pope Francis to India on occasion of exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa this year.

In a memorandum submitted to Shirole, the members of the organisation said the Catholic community in the city and country was "saddened and disappointed" to learn that Pope Francis, the head of the Catholics in the world, was not visiting India to attend the exposition. The exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier, the 17th century Spanish Jesuit, is held in Goa every 10 years and is attended by a large number of Christians from all over the country and abroad.

The United Christians delegation that met Shirole included Francis Britto, Ashwin Rego, Sachin Ambrithraj and Peter D'Cruz.

The organisation has urged the Lok Sabha Member to intercede on behalf of Pune's 1.5 lakh Catholics with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to extend an invitation to Pope Francis, who is also head of the Vatican State, to visit India.

Peter D'Cruz told Sakal Times that Shirole handed over a copy of the memorandum to Swaraj in New Delhi on Saturday. The Union minister has assured him that she will look into the matter, Shirole informed representatives of the United Christians.

The Catholic Church last month officially confirmed that the Pope was not scheduled to visit Goa to attend the exposition. Incidentally, Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when the latter visited Goa early last month. It was not known whether the issue of inviting the Pope to India during the exposition was discussed during the meeting.

Decennial exposition starts in November

The decennial exposition of the sacred relics of Goa's patron saint, St Francis Xavier, the 17th century Spanish Jesuit, will be held in Old Goa from November 22 this year to January 4, 2015.

Incidentally, Pope Francis himself is the first Jesuit, a member of the priests' congregation Society of Jesus, to be elevated to the Papacy. 

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Vincent Bagul - Tuesday, 29 July 2014 - 10:48 AM IST

The United Christians should have sent their invitation directly to the Pope. Why do they have to ask the local MP to intervene? Does not the Pope listen to the Christian people? It is true that the Pope holds dual post as the Head of the Vatican State and as the Head of the Catholic Church. But the Christians are expecting the Pope in India only as the Head of the Catholic Church. If the Pope has interest in his faithful flock, he should come on his own. Why involve the Government of India?

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Pope not coming to India disappoints people

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Pope not coming to India disappoints people
Camil Parkhe - Sakal Times Tuesday, 1 July 2014 - 12:09 AM IST
Tags: Pope Francis, Catholic Church

Pune: The official confirmation by the Catholic Church that Pope Francis will not visit Goa and other parts of India, during the forthcoming exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa, has disappointed Christians here.

It was widely believed that Pune, having major church institutions, will be a part of the Pope's itinerary if he decides to visit the country.

Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao had announced in Panaji, Goa, last week that there are no plans for the visit of Pope Francis during the exposition of the relics of the Jesuit Spanish saint Francis Xavier. The decennial exposition will be held from November 22 this year to January 4, 2015.

Incidentally, Pope Francis is also the first Jesuit, a member of the Society of Jesus congregation, elevated to the papacy. Therefore, it was believed that he may visit Goa and other parts of India during the exposition of the relics of a fellow Jesuit. 

Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre has said, “It is natural that Christian devotees will be disappointed that the Holy father is not visiting India.” 

Speaking to Sakal Times, the bishop, however, clarified that Pope Francis' India visit was not planned as the Government of India had not extended a formal invitation to the head of the Catholic Church.

He said that the Catholic Bishops Conference of India delegation had met the then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh some months ago to seek extending an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India during the exposition period.

"However, the Government of India did not make any move and therefore, no plans were made for the Pope's visit,” Bishop Dabre said. Peter D'Cruz, an activist and leader of the local United Christians Front, has said that even now, the Government of India can initiate steps to arrange for the Pope's visit during the exposition.

“The BJP government at the Centre and also in Goa State should expedite the formalities to invite the Pope, the leader of the largest religious community in the world, to India. The exposition of relics of St Francis Xavier, held once in a decade, is a major event for the Christians in the country.” D'Cruz said.