The annual feast of Our Lady of Snows will be celebrated on August 5, 2023 at Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia.
The schedule of masses for the feast and novena days is as follows:
NOVENA MASSES: July 27, 2023 – August 4, 2023
Morning: 6.30 am
Evening: 6 pm
FEAST DAY: Saturday, August 5, 2023
On the feast day, masses will be held at
5.30 am, 6.45 am, 8.15 am, 9.45 am (high mass) and 12 noon
High mass: 9.45 am
All masses will be in Konkani. On the feast day, the main celebrant for the high mass will be Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, sfx, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi, Jharkand.
SOME BACKGROUND
The Our Lady of Snows Church (Nossa Senhora das Neves Igreja em Raia in Portuguese), Raia, sometimes known as Raia Church, was built in 1699.
The parish of Our Lady of Snows Church Raia, in Salcete, has the privilege of celebrating the first harvest festival in Goa on August 5 every year.
On the feast day, the priest cuts the sheaves (konsa) with a silver sickle. After that, he blesses the harvest and prays for the farmers.
Following the distribution of the sheaves, there is a procession to the church.