Thousands celebrate feast of St Catherine at Old Goa

Panaji: When Afonso de Albuquerque recaptured Goa on Nov 25, 1510, the victory coincided with St Catherine’s feast. A tradition of celebrating the commemorative feast continued on Monday at Old Goa.

The Portuguese conqueror, overcome with gratitude for the victory after a failed first attempt, ordered a chapel to be dedicated to the 4th century martyr from Alexandria, now in Egypt. This year, as in the recent past, the feast was celebrated in the pandal erected for the novena of St Francis Xavier outside the Bom Jesus Basilica.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman, was the main celebrant at the 9.45am feast Mass, as thousands attended it. Se Cathedral, which is about 400m east of the chapel facing the Mandovi river, was built to commemorate the Portuguese victory.

The cathedral, also called the Archbishop’s Church, was hence dedicated to the saint. Delivering the homily, Canon Alfred Vaz, president of the Cathedral Chapter, said that even virtuous people have to suffer tremendously but those who stay steadfastly close to God overcome all their travails.

Referring to the 18-year-old martyr’s life, he said she faced threats from emperor Maxentius for converting people to Christianity. As even torture failed to dissuade her, he proposed marriage to her. But after she refused, he ordered that she be beheaded.

Tracing the history of the Portuguese entry into Goa, Vaz said they were invited by Timoja Naik and Mhal Poi Vernekar to overthrow Adil Shah of Bijapur. “Their first conquest of Goa didn’t last long and they had to beat a hasty retreat,” Vaz said.