St Xavier sowed the seed for us to do as Jesus did: Baroda bishop at feast Mass

Panaji: Brothers and bishops Sebastiao and Theodore Mascarenhas, from Camurlim, South Goa, concelebrated the Pontifical high Mass along with other bishops at the feast of St Francis Xavier at Old Goa on Monday. The congregation included thousands of people including chief minister Pramod Sawant and other politicians.

A sign language interpreter assisted those with hearing difficulties in participating in the Mass.

Bishop Sebastiao, an ex-superior general of the Society of Pilar who became a bishop (of Baroda) earlier this year, was the main celebrant of the Mass. He said that St Francis Xavier’s idea was to educate people and his interest lay in caring for the sick.

“There was a college with over 300 people here in 1542. The Franciscans built a college of 300-400 people teaching arts and sciences. That was perhaps the foundation of modern education for all people. St Francis Xavier wanted to bring all people together,” he said.

“That is the heritage of Goa for us. That’s how he sowed the seed... he sowed the seed for us to do what Jesus did,” he said. “As we are here celebrating this feast of St Francis Xavier, let’s take our heritage to bring peace, unity, and also bring everyone together to reach out to the poor and to be forgiving in our own families, in our communities, and to all people. Only then can I say to you, a very happy feast of St Francis Xavier.”

He also said that Xavier, the son of a king and a top philosopher, left everything and travelled by ship for six months to India as the Pope’s ambassador (Nuncio), and chose to travel in the sick bay, taking care of sick people on the journey.

“The Pope has declared a year of hope because there’s war, fighting, and exploitation everywhere. The poor are getting poorer. How do we handle this? There is hope in us if we believe in Jesus,” he said.

Ferrao, too, extended greetings to those who came on walking pilgrimages from Sindudurg, Belgaum, Kolhapur and other parts of India.

The feast Mass was held on Monday as December 3 was a Sunday.

Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fr Patricio Fernandes, said that the church is beginning its preparations for the decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, scheduled between November 21, 2024, and January 6, 2025.


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