St. Francis is example of dedication and openness, says Archbishop of Goa

Old Goa – Greeting the thousands of faithful on the inaugural day of the 16th solemn Exposition of the relics of St. Francis Xavier, Rev. Felipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and Patriarch of the East Indies, remarked that the saint could become an “example of dedication and openness to others.” the decennial exposition of the relics of Saint Francis Xavier, inaugurated on November 21 and scheduled to run till January 2 in the Archdiocese of Goa.

Welcoming the believers who have come from all over the world to pay homage to the saint on the occasion of the decennial exposition, the Archbishop said that though we are living in a time of globalization and liberal thinking but the numbers of the marginalized and the poor are ever on the increase. “Despite the tremendous progress that surrounds us, this makes our situation not much different from the one Francis Xavier encountered in his time,” the Archbishop said. “This should lead us to social action in the manner of Francis, [. . .] to a commitment to [. . .] all men and women in candid openness.”

According to AsiaNews, the Archbishop said that "Old Goa at the time of Saint Francis Xavier “was a rich cosmopolitan city, with peoples from all over the world doing trade and commerce, but also rife with scandals, licentiousness and a weak faith.”

Urging the faithful to answer to the calling of the Lord, the Archbishop said that every Christian should pursue [. . .] the fullness of Christian life and [. . .] thus contribute to a genuine revitalisation of our ecclesial community in this Archdiocese.”

The theme of this year’s exposition is ‘As fellow pilgrims nourished by the Eucharist sent to build communion’.

Father Loyola, Secretary of Archbishop of Goa and Daman, said that the goal of the event was to “re–evangelize” and revive the faith of the clergy and laity.

In wake of the violence perpetrated by Hindu fundamentalist groups and the recent fire that ravaged a section of the Basilica, Fr. Loyola appreciated the good gesture of the local state government in providing ample security and also helping out in other respects to maintain law and order. “The Police Department has deployed additional constabulary to ensure law and order,” he said. “The Fire Brigade has set up additional stations all around the area to prevent or control any untoward incident taking place.” Public transit has been beefed up to “facilitate pilgrims reaching the Bom Jesus Basilica”.

The feast day of Saint Francis Xavier falls on Friday, December 3 and the Papal Nuncio will be the main celebrant of the Eucharist.

On Sunday, December 5, the relics of the saint, which are kept in a silver casket with a glass window inside the Basilica, will be carried in a procession after a high Mass to the Cathedral across the road and kept for public viewing and veneration.

There are several cultural events associated with the exposition, among them the theatrical release of Grace, Guts and Glory, the first full–length film on the life and times of the saint produced for the occasion.