11/09/2014 …. With just two months left officials of the st francis xavier exposition committee 2014 are busy and the Preparations are in full swing around old goa for the decennial exposition of st francis xavier Which would bring in over lakhs of visitors to old Goa,
Goa is gearing up for the 17th decennial, solemn public exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, which are kept in a silver casket at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.
Though the Christian world celebrates the feast of st francis Xavier on December 3 every year.
Church authorities believes that this year exposition which begins from November 22 till January 4, 2015 would attracts pilgrims from all over India and other parts of the world,
st Francis Xavier, was born in Spain on April 7, 1506, and arrived in Goa on May 6, 1542. His missionary work took him across Asia over the next 10 years. He died Dec. 3, 1552, on Sancian island just short of his ultimate goal: China.
The body of Francis Xavier was first laid to rest in Portuguese Malacca (present day northern Malaysia) . Two years later, the body was moved to the Portuguese colony at Goa, today a popular tourist enclave, and installed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
The basilica and the mausoleum there that holds the relics of Francis Xavier are a popular pilgrimage site year round. Every 10 years the relics are moved in solemn procession to the nearby Se Cathedral where they are available for public veneration for 44 days.
Speaking to goanreporter convener for Saint Francis Xavier exposition 2014 fr Alfred vaz said that from the committee side preparations were in full swing for the exposition of st francs Xavier with the main focus being on religious side where in everything has been planned
Fr vaz said during the 44 days exposition there would be exhibitions, stalls and a stage would be set up in the area where in different groups would put up plays highlighting the various challenges in todays world as Christians
Fr vaz also spoke about the schedule programme of mass timings during the 44 days exposition of st francis xavier at old goa
