the goan I network
MARGAO
Thousands of devotees thronged to Our Lady of Hope Parish Church, Chinchinim to worship and venerate Our Lady of Fatima as the Fatima Centenary India pilgrimage entered Goa at Chinchinim on Monday evening.
The statue of Our Lady of Fatima was received at the Dandeavaddo junction at Chinchinim by the Parish Priest Fr Jose Antonio Costa and the parishioners. The statue was later taken to the Church in a procession via the St Sebastian Chapel.
A concelebrated Eucharistic celebration was held in the Church led by Bishop of Sindhudurg, Allwyn Barretto and attended by a host of priests. In his homily, Bishop Allywn underlined the need to emulate the virtues of Our Lady. "We must keep Mother Mary before us and emulate her virtues," he added.
Parish Priest Fr Jose Antonio Costa said an estimated 12,000 people from Chinchinim and outside venerated the statue of Our Lady of Fatima on Monday. "We prayed for the people in general. And we prayed for Goa and India at large," Fr Costa added.
Thousands lined up at the Church till late in the evening to venerate Our Lady before the statue was taken to the Carmelite monastery at
Margao.
The journey of the statue had commenced with the blessing of Cardinal Cleemis, the president of the Catholic Bishops' conference of India.
