PANAJI
The Archdiocese of Goa and Daman will organise its annual Diocesan ‘Walking Pilgrimage’ to the Old Sancoale Church on February 18, the first Sunday of Lent, to initiate the spiritual preparation for Lent.
The theme for the Pilgrimage “Let us journey together on the path of Penance and be Proclaimers of Hope.”
In a press release, the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM) stated that the Pilgrimage is a help for the faithful to begin the Holy Season of Lent with penance and sacrifice reflecting on the Love of God and their response to His Love.
The pilgrimage will begin from the assigned centre for each Parish at 2 am, so that the pilgrims can reach Sancoale by 5 am for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by participation in the Eucharistic celebration. Parishioners may contact their parish priest for more details.
The Place of Pilgrimage holds special significance to Goans because it is from here the Patron Saint of Goa, after his encounter with God and Mother Mary, embarked on a pilgrimage to serve God and neighbhour in Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
The Convenor of the Spiritual Event Fr Ligorinho D’Costa suggested that those who cannot come to Sancoale may recite the Rosary, personal prayer and reflect on their life on the way to their Parish Church as part of their Pilgrimage.
Those who cannot attend the Parish Church may spend the day in the Spirit of the Pilgrimage by praying the Rosary, the prayer for the Pilgrimage, read the scriptures and reflect on the way of the Cross of Jesus, the journey of Abraham and Mother Mary.
For those who cannot participate physically, the event will be made available by Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Goa on the Diocesan YouTube Channel and local TV Channels.
