22/11/2014 …. Pilgrims from across the globe and India, visiting Goa for the St. Francis Xavier Exposition 2014, will get an opportunity to participate in the Holy Eucharist at Old Goa in languages of their choice.
This is a facility introduced in addition to Masses in foreign and Indian languages that are already scheduled during the SFX Novenas between November 24 to December 2, 2014.
Fr Alfred Vaz, Convener for Exposition 2014 said, “Pilgrims coming from across the globe and India are being given this opportunity for the first time.”
The additional masses would be permitted as per the requests received, and scheduled at 11 am after the regular daily masses are held in the morning.
Foreign language masses in Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese have already been scheduled during the Novena days. Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Malayalam and Kanada masses are some of the Indian language Masses lined up during the nine day Novenas as well.
Fr Vaz explained further that Masses in any foreign and Indian language would be permitted if requested for by the pilgrim.With Spain being the birth place of St Francis Xavier, a special mass in Spanish is also scheduled on December 3, the feast day of St Francis Xavier.
According to the calendar of Masses published for Exposition 2014, Masses will be held daily during the entire period of the SFX Exposition.
The Eucharistic Masses in Konkani and English are scheduled daily.
“Providing an opportunity for visitors to Goa, who will be on a pilgrimage to Old Goa during the SFX Exposition, to participate in Masses in foreign and Indian languages will draw more tourists to the State during the Exposition,” said Nilesh Cabral, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
Goa tourism has is expecting tourists to converge at Old Goa from across the globe and India in large numbers and are optimistic that their stay in Goa will be more meaningful during the SFX Exposition 2014.
