[First appeared in Herald - 24 November 2014]
MELVYN MISQUITA
24 NOV 2014
PANJIM
It was an honour and privilege accorded to a limited number of people, as those who carried the relics of St Francis Xavier during the inaugural ceremony of the XVII Exposition were yet to overcome the excitement of their once-in-a-lifetime experience on Saturday.
For a senior priest, however, this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience occurred twice within less than an hour, when he had the rare fortune to having held the relics on two occasions during the solemn procession from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the Se Cathedral.
It was also special privilege for a family in Aldona, as a woman and her mother-in-law had the privilege of carrying the relics at the expositions in 2014 and 2004 respectively.
Fr Saturnino Dias, president of the Cathedral Chapter and Director of the Missionary Animation Centre, admitted that he was not scheduled to carry the relics on two occasions. “I thank God and St Francis Xavier for giving me this unique privilege to have carried the relics twice during the solemn procession on Saturday,” said Fr Dias.
On the first occasion, Fr Dias was on the right side to carry the crystal coffin, as priests brought out the relics at about 12.15 pm from the inside of the Basilica to the main door of the Basilica, where they handed it over to members of the Pastoral Parish Council (PPC).
“On the first occasion, I was not initially part of the group of priests to carry the relics from inside the Basilica. In fact, I did not even participate in the rehearsal for this event. But after the rehearsal, some senior priests came to me and requested me to carry the relics as a representative of the Cathedral Chapter,” said Fr Dias.
“I initially wanted to give this privilege to another canon, but the priests insisted that I should carry the relics as president of the Cathedral Chapter,” he added.
On the second occasion, Fr Dias was on the left side of the relics as he along with other canons and members of the exposition committee carried the relics at about 12.45 pm from the main door of the Se Cathedral to the site, where the relics have been placed for veneration.
“I certainly cannot explain this unique privilege and I can only attribute it to divine intervention for this experience,” said a grateful Fr Dias.
For Lourdes M Vaz of Old Goa, it was an ethereal experience. “When I was informed about the privilege of carrying the sacred relics, I was thrilled. It is one of the rarest of the rare moments of one’s life. When I actually held the relics, an ethereal feeling of peace and serenity descended upon me,” recalled Vaz.
Gail Misquita of Aldona also had the privilege of carrying the relics as member of the exposition committee, during the last stop in the Se Cathedral. “While I carried the casket on my left shoulder, I got to touch the casket with my right hand and it was a special experience for me,” said Misquita. Incidentally, her mother-in-law, Silvia Misquita, had had the privilege of carrying the relics during the exposition in 2004.
The experience was equally special for Fr Tomas Lobo, parish priest of Alto-Porvorim.
“Since my childhood, St Francis Xavier has been my favourite Saint whose blessings I regularly seek. Thankfully, I have always experienced the providential care an intercession of my beloved Saint. I felt blessed by God to have carried the body of someone very close to my heart. It was God’s favour and St Francis Xavier’s gift,” said Fr Lobo.
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MELVYN MISQUITA
24 NOV 2014
PANJIM
 |
| Fr Saturnino Dias (left),
Fr Lucio Dias (centre) and Fr Tomas Lobo (right) carry the relics of St Francis Xavier outside the main gate of Basilica of Bom Jesus. Photo by Vincent Braganza. |
For a senior priest, however, this ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience occurred twice within less than an hour, when he had the rare fortune to having held the relics on two occasions during the solemn procession from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the Se Cathedral.
It was also special privilege for a family in Aldona, as a woman and her mother-in-law had the privilege of carrying the relics at the expositions in 2014 and 2004 respectively.
Fr Saturnino Dias, president of the Cathedral Chapter and Director of the Missionary Animation Centre, admitted that he was not scheduled to carry the relics on two occasions. “I thank God and St Francis Xavier for giving me this unique privilege to have carried the relics twice during the solemn procession on Saturday,” said Fr Dias.
On the first occasion, Fr Dias was on the right side to carry the crystal coffin, as priests brought out the relics at about 12.15 pm from the inside of the Basilica to the main door of the Basilica, where they handed it over to members of the Pastoral Parish Council (PPC).
“On the first occasion, I was not initially part of the group of priests to carry the relics from inside the Basilica. In fact, I did not even participate in the rehearsal for this event. But after the rehearsal, some senior priests came to me and requested me to carry the relics as a representative of the Cathedral Chapter,” said Fr Dias.
“I initially wanted to give this privilege to another canon, but the priests insisted that I should carry the relics as president of the Cathedral Chapter,” he added.
On the second occasion, Fr Dias was on the left side of the relics as he along with other canons and members of the exposition committee carried the relics at about 12.45 pm from the main door of the Se Cathedral to the site, where the relics have been placed for veneration.
“I certainly cannot explain this unique privilege and I can only attribute it to divine intervention for this experience,” said a grateful Fr Dias.
For Lourdes M Vaz of Old Goa, it was an ethereal experience. “When I was informed about the privilege of carrying the sacred relics, I was thrilled. It is one of the rarest of the rare moments of one’s life. When I actually held the relics, an ethereal feeling of peace and serenity descended upon me,” recalled Vaz.
Gail Misquita of Aldona also had the privilege of carrying the relics as member of the exposition committee, during the last stop in the Se Cathedral. “While I carried the casket on my left shoulder, I got to touch the casket with my right hand and it was a special experience for me,” said Misquita. Incidentally, her mother-in-law, Silvia Misquita, had had the privilege of carrying the relics during the exposition in 2004.
The experience was equally special for Fr Tomas Lobo, parish priest of Alto-Porvorim.
“Since my childhood, St Francis Xavier has been my favourite Saint whose blessings I regularly seek. Thankfully, I have always experienced the providential care an intercession of my beloved Saint. I felt blessed by God to have carried the body of someone very close to my heart. It was God’s favour and St Francis Xavier’s gift,” said Fr Lobo.
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