MARGAO
An estimated two lakh devotees venerated the relics of St Anthony of Padua during the two-day exposition at the Padre Pio Chapel at Moddi-Navelim, which culminated on Sunday evening, before the relics were escorted to the Dabolim airport for onward journey to Chennai and later to Singapore.
The veneration of the relics, which began at 3 pm on Saturday noon, came to a close only at around 2.30 am on Sunday. It is estimated that over a lakh devotees had thronged the Padre Pio Chapel since Saturday noon and past midnight.
Veneration of the relics resumed at dawn on Sunday morning and culminated with a thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration by Episcopal Vicar, South Goa, Fr Lucio Dias, Provincial Minister St Anthony Province, Goa, Waldhine Rodrigues and a host of Capuchin Priests.
The Eucharistic celebration was followed by the final blessings.
Fr Gabriel Fernandes informed that close to two lakh devotees poured in at the Padre Pio Chapel at Moddi-Navelim during the last two days to venerate St Anthony’s relics. The Capuchin priests later escorted the relics to the Dabolim airport for its onward journey to Chennai en route
to Singapore.
Fr Gabriel thanked everyone who lent their helping hand for the smooth conduct of the exposition. During the two-day event, prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar upon the arrival of the relics at the Padre Pio Chapel on Saturday.
The Capuchin priests, who had played host to the exposition, had mobilized around 200 volunteers to assist the devotees and to
ensure smooth conduction of the event.
The traffic department had also made elaborate traffic and parking arrangements in and around the Padre
Pio Chapel during the two-day exposition.
