the goan I network
Old Goa
Thousands of devotees thronged Old Goa on Saturday as the nine-day novenas in honour of our Goencho Saib St Francis Xavier commenced.
The novenas are part of the preparations of the feast of St Francis Xavier which will be held on Monday, December 3.
Masses commenced as early as 5 am and ended with the 6.15 pm English mass. The other masses were all in Konkani.
The theme on the first day of the novena was ‘Called to be holy and blameless before Him in love’ and the sermons centered around this theme with the priests exhorting the people to lead a holy and spotless life just like Saint Francis Xavier.
The devotees were further exhorted to heed the call of Jesus who asks each and everyone to be holy.
“Francis Xavier wanted to gain name and fame but ultimately the call by Jesus made him change his life and this is what Jesus asks of each and every one of us,” the preachers went on to add.
