PANAJI
A first-ever Mass for the visually impaired pilgrims during the recent Exposition was celebrated at the St Francis Xavier Training cum Production Centre in Old Goa.
Fr Henry Falcao, Convenor of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, was the main celebrant, with other concelebrants were Fr Maverick Fernandes (Director, Caritas Goa), Fr Savio Fernandes (Executive Secretary, Council for Social Justice and Peace) and Fr Walter D’Souza (In-charge of SFX Training cum Production Centre, Old Goa).
About 85 visually impaired pilgrims and their assistants from Goa and other states like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Odisha and Himachal Pradesh participated in the Holy Eucharist.
Fr Falcao, in his homily, stated that St Francis Xavier, who was in love with Jesus, attracted many people to Jesus during his lifetime and continues to charm people even 500 years later.
“So many people have come together for this one event to venerate the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. We are all pilgrims working and walking together in this journey,” said Fr Falcao.
Earlier, Fr Maverick Fernandes welcomed the visually impaired pilgrims and their companions and spoke of his long association with Blind Welfare Association in Goa.
Milagres Costa, Convenor of Blind Welfare Association and a visually impaired Goan presently based in the UK, thanked Caritas Goa for assisting in the organisation of the first-ever special mass for the visually impaired in Goa. Later, Fr Savio Fernandes proposed the vote of thanks.
After the Mass, special provisions were made to enable all the visually impaired pilgrims and their companions to venerate the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier at the See Cathedral.
