log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY DECEMBER 3, 2024 @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.166 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Solemnity and festivity as Old Goa sets Setback for Karachi pilgrims, only three stage for feast of Goencho Saib today to travel to Goa DEVOTEES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD EXPECTED; CARDINAL TAGLE TO PRESIDE OVER HIGH MASS; ELABORATE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE AMID TIGHT SECURITY THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA A multitude of devotees from all over the world will converge at Old Goa on Tuesday to participate in the Feast of St Francis Xavier and to venerate the Sacred Relics of the saint during the ongoing Exposition. As many as 10 Masses which will be celebrated throughout the day, beginning as early as 3.45 am, followed by Masses at 5 am, 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 10.30 am (High Mass), 12.15 pm, 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.15 pm (English). The 10.30 am High Mass will be in English and will be presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, while other prelates at Exposition an opportunity to introspect on teachings of St Francis Xavier: CM PANAJI: Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant said “We are fortunate to witness this practice of the decennial Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. This solemn Exposition held every ten years is an opportunity to introspect on the teachings of the Saint and an occasion of spiritual renewal and also a time to rekindle in the hearts of the laity the desire to be the messenger of the Good News.” The chief minister made this statement while extending his best wishes to devotees and pilgrims on the occasion of the decennial Exposition of the relics and the feast of St Francis Xavier on December 3. >> See pg 7 the Mass will include Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, and Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes. A large number of priests from across Goa and different parts of the world will also concelebrate at the Feast Mass. Meanwhile, the veneration of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier will start two hours Hundreds of pilgrims make Old Goa their home OLD GOA: On the eve of the Feast of St Francis Xavier, hundreds of pilgrims arrived at Old Goa and made it their home so that they could participate in the early morning Masses on the Feast Day. When The Goan visited Old Goa late Monday night, it was seen that many pilgrims were camping on the lawn of the precincts of the Basilica of Bom Jesus as their home for the night. Usually, the pilgrims would use the lawns in the precincts of See Cathedral as their home but since the area is out of bounds of early at 5 am, instead of the usual 7 am, as a huge rush of pilgrims is expected to make a beeline for the veneration of the Relics. Authorities and church offi- Some of the pilgrims who have made the lawns of Basilica as their home on the eve of feast of St Francis Xavier. Manuel Vaz pilgrims, they have now used the lawns of the Basilica as their home. cials have made elaborate arrangements to accommodate the vast number of pilgrims expected to converge at Old Goa. The North Goa Collector has issued order under section 163 of BNSS directing all shops/ establishments to temporarily shut down near the Neura >Continued on P9 Majority still awaiting clearance from Delhi THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a disheartening turn of events for the Pakistani Goan community, only three leaders from the group will be able to embark on the much-anticipated pilgrimage to Old Goa for the 18th Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. The remaining 170 pilgrims, who had fervently hoped to attend this spiritually significant event, are left awaiting clearance from Delhi, their dreams now overshadowed by uncertainty. Peter Mendes and two other leaders are the only members confirmed to travel, departing Pakistan on December 3 and arriving in Goa the following day. Meanwhile, other devoted pilgrims who had meticulously planned their journey in two batches, remain stranded 1K walking pilgrims from Upper Ghats reach Old Goa BELAGAVI: Around 1,000 walking pilgrims from the Upper Ghats region completed their pilgrimage after they reached Old Goa on Monday morning. >> See pg 3 in a frustrating bureaucratic limbo. The first group of 85 pilgrims was scheduled to leave in late November, while the second group planned to follow in mid-December. However, unforeseen obstacles have derailed these arrangements, dampening the collective spirit of a community that had pinned its hopes on this pilgrimage. >Continued on P9
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