India: Thousands Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Xavier at Bom Jesus Basilica

Thousands of devotees thronged the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, western India, on December 3 to celebrate the solemn feast of St. Francis Xavier, affectionately called by Goan Catholics Gõycho Saib, meaning “Patron of Goa.”

In his introduction, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão of Goa and Daman welcomed all those gathered for the celebration. He expressed joy that Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes was presiding at the feast Mass for the first time and warmly acknowledged Bishop Alex Dias, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair, for his faithful annual presence. He also greeted priests, religious, pilgrims from Goa, India, and abroad, as well as government and civil authorities.

The Mass was celebrated in the pandal erected for the novena and feast of St. Francis Xavier at Old Goa. Several priests, including Fr. Patricio Fernandes, Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and Fr. Rosario Oliveira, Parish Priest of Se Cathedral, concelebrated.

Call to Protect Creation

Preaching on the theme “Hope does not disappoint us,” Bishop Simião Fernandes recalled that this year the Church journeyed in hope with various groups, prisoners, families, the sick and elderly, migrants, the poor, persons with disabilities, and youth suffering various forms of abuse, offering concrete encouragement to become signs of hope to humanity and to God’s creation. Quoting St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he noted that “the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers.”

The Bishop urged the congregation to respond to Pope Francis’ call to be “guardians of creation and witnesses of hope.” He expressed concern that “hope for creation is slowly weakening,” reminding the faithful that creation is God’s gift and that human beings are called to be its stewards, not predators. As Chairman of the CCBI Western Region Commission for Ecology, he spoke with particular urgency about the ecological crisis, emphasizing that care for creation is both a moral and spiritual responsibility.

Referring to Genesis 1, he reiterated that “after creating, God saw that it was good,” and then asked whether the same could be said today. He pointed to visible signs of environmental degradation, excavated mountains, deforestation, polluted air and water, and mounting waste, lamenting that the beauty of creation has been wounded by human greed.

Bishop Simião stressed that God now calls humanity to rediscover its sacred duty as stewards of the earth. The world, he said, is not merely a resource but “a marvelous gift to be cherished,” a common home entrusted to human care. To guide the faithful, he offered the acronym CARE:

• C – Cherish: Cherish creation as God’s first revelation, where His beauty and goodness are manifest in mountains, rivers, forests, and every living being. To cherish is to look upon creation with deep gratitude.

• A – Act: Act responsibly through practical steps, reducing waste, conserving water, planting trees, and adopting sustainable habits, to “heal the wounds of the earth” and secure a better future.

• R – Respect: Respect all life, particularly the poor and vulnerable. He recalled Pope Francis’ teaching in Laudato si’ that “everything is interconnected,” noting that to respect creation is to honor the Creator.

• E – Educate and Encourage: Educate and encourage families, schools, institutions, and communities to protect the environment. When one heart awakens, he said, many others follow. “Creation is our treasure; we need to preserve and protect it,” he affirmed.

He concluded by recalling how St. Francis Xavier, who arrived by ship on these shores, brought hope to the poor and marginalized. The saint, he noted, respected creation and remains a model for caring for and safeguarding the natural world.

Fr. Afonso Mendonca, Director of the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, animated the liturgy, while Fr. Henry Falcão, Director of the St. Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre in Old Goa, served as commentator. The liturgical singing was conducted by Kenneth Lobo. Fr. Patricio Fernandes expressed heartfelt gratitude to all.

Those taking part in the feast included Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa; Capt. Viriato Fernandes, South Goa MP; Yuri Alemão, Leader of the Opposition; along with other ministers, Members of the State Legislative Assembly, and numerous faithful.

Masses were celebrated throughout the day. In preparation, novena Masses were held daily in Konkani and English, along with services in other languages. Pilgrims from across Goa and neighboring states participated in the novena and feast. Hundreds of pilgrims from Karnataka and Maharashtra undertook walking pilgrimages to Old Goa, offering thanks for favors received through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier. Many stayed in the vicinity of the Basilica of Bom Jesus during the celebrations.