THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
In a strongly worded message to politicians and civic authorities, Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India, cautioned them not to interfere with the activities and work of Christians, who should be given the freedom to live and practice their faith.
Shortly before imparting his final blessings at the Feast Mass of St Francis Xavier before several thousands of devotees and pilgrims on Saturday, Bishop Mascarenhas, a Pilar father, took the opportunity to give voice to concerns being raised by the Christian community.
Bishop Mascarenhas, a former Vatican official who has served under three popes before he was elevated as bishop and sent to India, minced no words in insisting that Christians should be allowed to practice their faith as enshrined in the Constitution.
Acknowledging the presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and other politicians in the congregation, Bishop Mascarenhas said, “Christians are the most patriotic community in India. Please give us the freedom to live our faith, to practice our faith.”
“Please do not interfere with our education, with our activities and with our work.”
“This is our request to you, whichever party you belong to. We are asking you only what the Constitution gives us,” said Bishop Mascarenhas, who is a member of the Pilar Fathers.
Besides Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, other politicians present at the Feast Mass included Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardessai, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, Curtorim MLA Alex Reginaldo Lourenco, former chief minister Churchill Alemao and other dignitaries.
That his strong message earn the approval of the packed congregation was evident by the spontaneous and thunderous applause that resounded across the pandal.
The message comes at a time when I-T notices have been sent to the Goa Church, when Christians are sought to be labeled as anti-nationals and when the Church schools have been targeted for its decision on the Medium of Instruction (MoI) issue.
After the Mass concluded, Bishop Mascarenhas promptly extended his hand of friendship as he greeted Parsekar while he along with other celebrants were leaving the pandal.
Earlier, thousands of devotees thronged Old Goa to partake in the celebration of the feast of St Francis Xavier on Saturday.
All the masses which began as early as 4 am and ended at 6 pm, saw huge participation of devotees from all over Goa and neighbouring States with Old Goa being converted into a sea of people.
Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, Secretary General of Catholic Bishops Conference of India, was the main celebrant for the feast mass along with Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao.
In his homily, Bishop Mascarenhas referred to the three biblical readings at the Mass, which exhort the people of their missionary role to spread the word of God to the world.
“Today, we are celebrating the feast of St Francis Xavier whom we call ‘Goencho Saib’. He witnessed Jesus’s love and mercy, crossed seas and oceans and came to Goa with God’s word and sowed the faith of Jesus in Goa,” Mascarenhas informed.
He further said that Goans are truly blessed because such a great saint came to Goa to show God’s mercy, love and to strengthen our faith in Jesus.
“He gave up all worldly things and dedicated his life to the faith. The same applies to us all Christians,” he added while stating that Jesus tells us to spread God’s love and word, and we have no other way. “We have to live the faith and spread the faith to other people,” he said.
Bishop Mascarenhas further informed that it is not easy to live the Christian faith, but Jesus had told them not to worry. “Even snakes won’t harm us. We have to keep this in mind and live our faith, come what may,” he preached.
“To live His love, mercy and to give it to others is not easy. But Lord Jesus who commands us to go and preach, also assures that He is with us,” he added.
Earlier, Archbishop Ferrao welcomed and introduced Bishop Mascarenhas as Goa’s own son who was born in Camurlim. He did his initial schooling at Saviour of the World high school, Loutolim and became priest of Pilar Society in 1988. Currently, he is appointed as the general secretary of Catholics Bishop Conference of India.
The choir from the Alto-Porvorim parish led the congregation in singing the hymns at the Feast Mass.
Later, Rector of Basilica Fr Savio Barretto proposed the vote of thanks. While thanking bishop Mascarenhas for accepting the invite to be the main celebrant for the feast mass, Fr Barretto also thanked the PWD, electricity department, Goa police, traffic police, health department, fire and emergency services, ASI, Old Goa panchayat, North Goa collectorate and other government departments for extending their valuable services in making the feast and novenas of Old Goa a big success.
Fr Barretto, in particular, thanked the numerous volunteers who worked selflessly in ensuring smooth functioning during the masses.
