For the next 45 days, the Old Goa heritage site will be enveloped in devotion as the much-awaited once-in-decade spiritual experience -- the 18th decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier -- gets underway tomorrow, Thursday, November 21, 2024.
A DAY BEFORE
The relics of St Francis Xavier are being prepared to be moved from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to Se Cathedral in Old Goa. The exposition has been held in Goa every ten years since 1964.
The casket of St Francis Xavier is brought down in a private ceremony in the presence of Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, as well as the Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Purificaçao Fernandes.
EXPOSITION SCHEDULE
Opening: The opening will take place on November 21, 2024. The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 9.30 am and will be followed by a procession carrying the sacred relics from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to Se Cathedral.
Closing: The exposition will come to a close on January 5, 2025. It will be marked by prayers in the Se Cathedral that will begin at 9.30 am, and will be followed by a solemn procession back to the basilica.
Veneration: On the opening day (November 21), veneration will begin after 1 pm, and from the next day onwards, it will continue from 7 am to 6 pm daily until January 4, 2025. There will be no veneration on January 5, 2025, the last day of the exposition.
Masses: There will be seven masses daily in Konkani and one in English, the timings for which are: 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 9.45 am, 11 am, 3.30 pm, 5 pm and 6.15 pm (in English).
HISTORIC FIRST
This year, the exposition will mark a historic moment for the Goa police force.
For the first time, Goa’s 12 Catholic police officers will carry the casket which contains the relics of St Francis Xavier from its resting place at the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the specially designed ceremonial carriage.
THE E-CARRIAGE
This is also the first time a special electric carriage has been designed to carry the relics of the saint. This carriage is a replica of the altar and the silver casket encasing the relics at the basilica.
In the past, during the exposition, the relics were carried in a silver casket on the shoulders of devotees and then placed at the Se Cathedral.
However, this year, the electric carriage will be a new addition. The e-carriage was developed at the Our Lady of Remedios Church, Betalbatim, under the leadership of Fr Adrian Furtado, parish priest and director of Blessed Joseph Vaz Enterprises.
WHAT MAKES THE EVENT SPECIAL
According to Fr Henry Falcao, convenor of the Exposition Committee, the decennial exposition being held this year, was announced two years in advance, unlike previously, when it was announced a year prior by the Archbishop of Goa and Daman.
This, he said, allowed people ample time to prepare spiritually for the event.
MUSICAL TOUCH
On the November 21, after the inaugural mass, devotees can witness a unique event, which will feature over 100 musicians from all over the state.
The members of the band, including both males and females, will tail the e-carriage from the basilica to the main entrance of the Se Cathedral. Fr Simon D'Cunha, who heads the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, will lead the band members.
SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS
Nearly 600 police personnel will be deployed to maintain traffic, and 700 will be posted 24x7 on all 45 days to maintain law and order in Old Goa. In addition to DySPs and SPs, additional police will also be posted at the venue, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed.
He also added that activities at Old Goa would be monitored through CCTVs. Anyone found indulging in suspicious behaviour would be immediately picked up, he said.
8 MILLION PILGRIMS EXPECTED
According to Fr Henry Falcao, over 8 million devotees are expected to venerate the relics of St Francis Xavier at this exposition.
This number is higher than the 5.5 million devotees who attended the last exposition in 2014.
SPECIAL WHEELCHAIR COUNTER
Apart from wheelchair arrangements for the disabled and the sick from different parishes of Goa, a special counter in Old Goa will attend to the immediate needs of those desiring to avail of this facility.
However, they have to produce documentation like a medical certificate verifying their disability or ailment. The wheelchair facility will be available at the gate in front of the Church of St Francis of Assisi.
PILGRIM VILLAGE
A pilgrim village, set up specially for the occasion, will cater to those who cannot afford accommodation.
The ten cottages at the village will be at the disposal of the Church authorities for the next 45 days and will be allotted free of cost to pilgrims.