MARGAO
Massive arrangements on the lines of the Old Goa feast of St Francis Xavier will be put in place at Navelim during the two days when the relics of St Anthony of Padua are brought to the Padre Pio Friary at Moddi-Navelim on March 3, as the Church authorities and district administration are expecting over two lakh devotees thronging the Padre Pio Chapel for the veneration of the relics.
A high-level meeting was chaired by South Goa Additional Collector, Agnelo Fernandes, in the District Collectorate here on Tuesday which was attended by as many as five Salcete MLAs, including Navelim MLA Luizinho Faleiro, Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao, Velim MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias and Nuvem MLA Wilfred D’Sa, besides the Capuchin Fathers to chalk out the arrangements for the religious occasion.
Officials of the Hospicio hospital, Margao Police, Traffic officials, Fire department, PWD, water supply, electricity, besides panchayat members of Navelim and Dramapur attended the meeting and gave their inputs for smooth conduct of the religious program.
Additional Collector Agnelo told The Goan after the meeting that the Church authorities are expecting over two lakh devotees during the two days when St Anthony’s relics will be exposed for veneration. He said the religious order has promised to make arrangements for CCTV cameras as well to put in place drinking water arrangements, adding that the electricity department has been told to illuminate the roads leading to the Padre Pio chapel.
