OLD GOA
Will it rain on the Feast of St Francis Xavier? This question was on the minds of everybody as the organisers were keeping their fingers crossed on whether to celebrate Masses inside the Basilica of Bom Jesus or inside the pandal.“What will happen on Friday, we do not know. If it rains in the night or early morning, and if there is too much water inside the pandal, then we will hold the early morning Masses inside,” Basilica Rector Fr Patricio Fernandes informed and said arrangements have been made to drain the water which is accumulating in the area in front of the main stage.
“Officials of the Fire Services, PWD, Krosscraft and others have helped us in this task,” he added.
“There are many alternatives worked out. We can hold the Masses inside and via the big screens, relay the Masses in the pandal which is protected by metal sheets.”
“That way, around 2,000 people can be accommodated inside the pandal, and a thousand people inside the church,” Fr Fernandes stated.
“If the Mass is held outside, arrangement could be made to relay the same inside the church. We are working on that,” the rector informed and added that Masses are scheduled at 3.30 am, 5 am, 6.30 am, 8 am, 10 am (High Mass), 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.15 pm (English).
For the High Mass, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Aleixo Dias will be the main celebrant along with Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrao and Sindhudurg Bishop Allwyn Barretto and priests.
