OLD GOA
With the Novena and Feast of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa to be celebrated outside the pandal after a gap of one year due to the Covid pandemic, arrangements are being made to ensure that people maintain SOPs during the event.
And one of the changes is an extended pandal to ensure that social distance is maintained.
Sharing a message on social media, Rector of Bom Jesus Basilica Fr Patricio Fernandes said, “The Novena and Feast will be held in the pandal. It will be an extended pandal so that social distance is maintained.”
“The theme chosen is ‘Stay with us Lord to live communion, participation, mission like St Francis Xavier’. The theme is made up of several elements like elements from the Pastoral Letter, which is the basis,” Fr Fernandes stated.
“This is also the year of 500 years of conversion of St Ignatius of Loyola and 400 years of sainthood of St Francis Xavier, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Theresa and St Felipe Neri,” Fr Fernandes added.
The Maadi will be held inside the pandal on November 23 at 6 pm.
Daily Masses will be celebrated at 5 am, 6.30 am, 8 am, 9.30 am, 11 am, 12.30 pm, 2 pm, 3.30
The deanery Masses will be for Calangute (8 am) and Bicholim & Pernem (9.30 am) on November 24, Mapusa (8 am) and inter-religious dialogue (9.30 am) on November 25, Siolim (8 am) and Canacona & Quepem (9.30 am) on November 26, Panjim (8 am) and Aldona (9.30 am) on November 27, Benaulim (8 am) and Old Goa & Goa Velha (9.30 am) on November 29, Chinchinim (8 am) and Ponda & Raia (9.30 am) on November 30, Margao (8 am) and Sanguem (9.30 am) on December 1 and Verna (8 am) and Mormugao (9.30 am) on December 2. There will be no Deanery Masses on November 28.
On November 25, being the feast of St Catherine of Alexandria, patroness of Se Cathedral, there will be no Masses at 9.30 am and 11 am, as the Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral. Instead, an inter-religious dialogue will be held in the pandal during that time.
On Sunday, there will be no Deanery Masses, but Masses will be celebrated in other languages like Tamil (11 am), Malyalam (12.30 pm) and Hindi (2 pm).
The Mass in Portuguese will be celebrated on December 1 at 12.30 pm and the Pilgrim Mass on December 2 at 12.30 pm.
“People are allowed to spend time in the corridor during the Novena and Feast, but with social distance. However, pilgrims won’t be allowed to make fires. Food packets will be provided at the canteen,” Fr Fernandes said.
