WALK THIS WAY: Goa Velha’s annual 'Procession of Saints' draws crowds from near and far. Photo: Gomantak Times
Things to Do

Don’t miss this Lenten tour and Goa Velha’s Procession of Saints

The Lenten bus tour will take place on Sunday, while the annual ‘Santanchem Pursanv’ will be held on Monday

GT Digital

Check out these two very interesting Lenten events happening this Sunday and Monday.

THE EASTER STORY

In Goa, a variety of programmes and events are held in keeping with the penitential spirit of Lent. One such event is this tour with a difference.

Fr Savio Fernandes presents ‘The Easter Story’, a half-day AC bus tour to witness the Stations of the Cross at ecclesiastical locations across Goa on March 17, 2024.

Limited seats are available, and will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

The schedule of the day is as follows:

  • 7.30 am: Bus leaves Heera Petrol Pump, Panjim

  • 8 am: Mass at Obra de Protecao a Mulher (OPM), Nachinola

  • 8.30 am: Hot local breakfast

  • 9.45 am: Arrival at Calangute orphanage

  • 11 am: Arrival at the Mother Theresa House of Destitute Women, Parra

  • 12.15 am: Arrival at Shanti Avedana Hospital, Loutolim, for terminally ill cancer patients

  • 1 pm: Visit to an ancient location which is otherwise not open to the public

  • 1.15 pm: Delicious Kanji, Torashir and dried Bombil will be served for lunch

  • 2.30 pm: Reach Heera Petrol Pump, Panjim (end of tour)

WHEN: Sunday, March 17, 2024

TIMINGS: 7.30 am to 2.30 pm

FEES: Nil

TO REGISTER: +91 89999 62123

'PROCESSION OF SAINTS' AT GOA VELHA

The annual penitential Procession of Saints (Santanchem Pursanv), which takes place in the fifth week of Lent, will be held at St Andrew's Church, Goa Velha on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 4.30 pm.

Parish priest of Nagoa-Verna, Fr Edson Fernandes, will be the main celebrant at the eucharistic celebration, which will be followed by the Procession of Saints.

The procession will begin with the Tau and Crossed Arms, a symbol of the Franciscan Order, and will be followed by around 31 statues, including that of the Patron of the Archdiocese, St Joseph Vaz.

The life-sized statues of the saints will be kept for public veneration from March 18 – 20 at St Andrew's Church, Goa Velha.

On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, there will be masses at 7 am, 9 am and 4 pm. On March 20, 2024, there will be mass at 7 am in the church.

This procession goes back hundreds of years, and apart from Goa, the only other place where it is held is in Rome.

Drawing large crowds from all over Goa, this traditional procession has been held since the 17th century, when it was started by the Franciscan Order in Goa.

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