Archdiocese of Goa and Daman Organises Walking Pilgrimage in Goa
Sancoale: Catholics across Goa has taken a walking Pilgrimage (Bhavarthachi Yatra) to Sancoale Old Church on the First Sunday of the Lent on 10th March 2019. St. Joseph Vaz wrote a letter of bondage at this old Church of Sancoale. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão, who presided the Eucharist at the Old Church Sancoale, appealed around 23000 faithful gathered to experience Jesus and show concern towards the poor, needy and the marginalised. Fr. Alfred Vaz, Convenor of the Committee formed for Walking Pilgrimage, Fr. Louis Alvares, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Fr. Manuel Dias, Rector of the St. Joseph Vaz Sanctuary, Sancoale, Fr. Leonardo P. D’souza, Episcopal Vicar for Central Zone, Fr. Lucio Dias, Episcopal Vicar for the South Zone, Fr. Tony D’souza, Episcopal for Religious, Fr. Mathew Fernandes, Provincial of Goa Province of Pilar Fathers, Fr. Simiao Fernandes, Director, Pastoral Institute, Old Goa, Fr. Donato Rodrigues of Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, Fr. Sertorio Rodrigues, Parish Priest of Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, Assolna, Fr. Camilo Dias, Assistant to the Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s Church, Vasco, Fr. Mark Furtado,OCD,of Carmelite Monastery, Margao ( Religious) and 135 priests concelebrated.
“Jesus was always on the way. He walked the way of suffering.” Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão said in a homily on the theme of the First Sunday of the Lent—“Man does not live on the bread alone.” while reminding the faithful that the journey of faith begins on the day of Baptism. Explaining the triple challenge before the followers of Jesus, Archbishop said that the faithful need to walk their journey with Jesus. “We need to strengthen our faith in Jesus, trust in Him, confirmed to the image of Jesus, give up our sinful habits, detach from worldly things to walk with Jesus.” He clarified. “Jesus was tempted, but he overcame the temptations, taking the help of Word of God and fasting.” He said further. Stating the second challenge, Archbishop said that Jesus built not buildings, but families and communities and requested to build with Jesus specially broken people, families and communities by accepting humility and through prayers. He requested the faithful to show the love of Jesus to the other by accepting the others as they are. He also depicted the life of St. Joseph Vaz, Patron of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, who made Jesus as the center of his life through accepting the way of Jesus, building families and communities and serving the poor and the needy.
Sancoale Parish Choir led the liturgical singing. Fr. Afonso Mendonca, Director of Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, animated the liturgy. Fr. Alfred Vaz, Convenor of the committee formed for Walking Pilgrimage delivered the vote of thanks. 300 volunteers from Diocesan Youth Centre, Benaulim deanery and Sancoale Parish volunteered their services. St. Luke Medical Guild and the Catholic Nurses Guild were of great help.
The Walking Pilgrimage was organised by the Archdiocese of Goa Daman to understand the salvific value of suffering, to spread the joy of being Christian, to gain God’s grace in our difficulties and also an occasion for personal conversion. It is organised in Sancoale because of the son of the soil (Sancoale) St. Joseph Vaz, during his Spiritual journey in Sri Lanka, he walked sharing the message of Christ to the less fortunate. It was an opportunity given by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, for the church in Goa to walk with Christ, who first walked to the calvary for us. Six venues across Goa were identified. Goa Velha, Mandur, Quelossim, Verna, Cansaulim and Vasco were the six centers which were identified from which faithful began the Walking Pilgrimage at 3.00a.m. Faithful reached the destination, Sancoale Old Chuch before 6:30 a.m. by covering 9 km. Around 23000 faithful from 19 deaneries and from all the Parishes and chapels of the Archdiocese of Goa participated in the Walking Pilgrimage.
The faithful also had an opportunity to put down their petitions on a paper. Archbishop raised those petitions up to God through a special prayer.
A special way of the Cross was held in all the parishes and chapel of the Archdiocese as a preparation for the Walking Pilgrimage. Fasting and Prayers were also offered for the success of the event from Ash Wednesday to Saturday. Faithful also participated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a preparation of the Pilgrimage. A Special logo was designed by Abishai Mascarenhas fro Ambora with a Cross on the logo to identify the image of the Cross of St. Joseph Vaz, The feet represent the pilgrimage. Jesus walked to us with the Cross and from the Cross. We are now his feet to carry His message of love, peace, forgiveness to everyone.
John Malvino Alfonso OCD, Pics.by Glenn Almeida and Veli Fernandes
