The liturgical preparations for the feast of St Francis Xavier, in Old Goa, begin on November 24. This is one of the most popular feasts in Goa’s Catholic calendar, and draws large numbers of devotees from far and wide as well as tourists from beyond the State.
This year also marks the 18th Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, a decennial event which began on November 21, 2024 and ends on January 5, 2025.
While the theme for this year’s celebrations is ‘We are messengers of the Good News’, the mass timings for the novena and feast of St Francis Xavier, Old Goa, are as follows, and all masses are in Konkani, unless specified.
MADDI
Saturday, November 23, 2024 (after 6.15 pm mass)
NOVENA MASSES (Nov 24, 2024 – Dec 2, 2024)
Morning: 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 9.45 am, 11 am
Evening: 3.30 pm, 5 pm & 6.15 pm (English)
NO NOVENA MASSES ON
Nov 25 at 11 am
Nov 28 at 9.45 am & 11 am
DEANERY MASSES
All masses are in Konkani, unless specified.
Nov 25: 8.30 am (Panjim); 5 pm (Canacona)
Nov 26: 8.30 am (Mormugoa); 9.45 am (Bicholim); 5 pm (Chinchinim)
Nov 27: 8.30 am (Verna); 9.45 am (Pernem); 5 pm (Quepem)
Nov 28: 8.30 am (Calangute); 5 pm (Raia)
Nov 29: 8.30 am (Benaulim); 9.45 am (Mapusa); 11 am (Ponda); 5 pm (Sanguem)
Nov 30: 8.30 am (Aldona); 9.45 am (Siolim); 11 am (Old Goa); 5 pm (Margao)
Dec 2: 8.30 am (Goa Velha)
DIOCESAN CENTRE MASSES
Nov 24 onwards, on all week days at 3.30 pm
PARISH PILGRIMAGES
Dec 4 onwards, on all week days at 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 9.45 am, 11 am & 5 pm
OUT OF GOA PILGRIMS MASS
Dec 2 at 12.15 pm
MASS OF MISSION OF DAMAN
Dec 1 at 12.15 pm
SPECIAL MASSES
Nov 21 (9.30 am): Inaugural mass followed by procession
Nov 24 (3.30 pm): Inauguration of CCBI Pastoral Plan 2024-2033
Nov 25 (9.45 am): Feast of St Catherine of Alexandria
Nov 28 (9.45 am): Inter-religious meet
Nov 30 (3.30 pm): Mass for consecrated men
Dec 1 (9.45 am): Canon mass
Dec 2 (3.30 pm): Mass for consecrated women
Dec 3 (10.30 am): Feast mass
Dec 4 (8.30 am): Mass presided by the Apostolic Nuncio
Dec 24: Christmas midnight mass
Dec 29 (3.30 pm): Solemn opening of the Jubilee Year
Dec 30 (6.15 pm): Mass for Goan diaspora
Dec 31 (12 midnight): New Year midnight mass
Jan 5, 2025 (9.30 am): Closing ceremony, prayer, procession and mass
LANGUAGE MASSES
Nov 24: 11 am (Tamil)
Nov 24: 12.15 am (Malayalam)
Nov 24: 2 pm (Hindi)
Nov 26: 2 pm (French)
Dec 1: 11 am (Portuguese)
Dec 2: 11 am (Kannada)
VENERATION OF THE SACRED RELICS
7 am to 6 pm daily
MASS TIMINGS (Dec 4, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025)
Masses will continue to be celebrated in Old Goa after the feast day, and will continue till the closing of the 18th exposition. The mass timings will be as follows:
Morning: 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 9.45 am, 11 am
Evening: 3.30 pm, 5 pm & 6.15 pm (English)
FEAST DAY MASSES (Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024)
Morning: 3.45 am, 5 am, 6 am, 7.15 am, 8.30 am, 10.30 am (High mass in English)
Afternoon/evening: 12.15 pm, 3.30 pm, 4 pm 5 pm & 6.15 pm (English)
Solemn feast high mass: 10.30 am
The solemn high mass on the feast day will be presided over by the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, His Eminence Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle from Rome, as well as other concelebrants.