As you read this, the solemn exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier will be underway in Old Goa. For the next 45 days, beginning today, November 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025, for Catholics in particular, Old Goa will be the place to go to at least once, if not twice and to some even multiple trips to visit the relics of their beloved saint.
This is because the exposition, happening once in a decade, is a major event in the calendar of the church in Goa.
If every year, thousands attend the novena masses in preparation for the feast of St Francis Xavier at the basilica, then during the exposition, the numbers increase considerably, as the exposition gives the faithful the opportunity to view the relics closely and venerate them, too.
At all other times, the relics of the saint remain atop the mausoleum in the chapel dedicated to him in the Basilica of Bom Jesus, but for the exposition, these are brought down and taken to the Se Cathedral across the street from the basilica, where people can file past it and venerate the relics.
At all other times, the relics of the saint remain atop the mausoleum in the chapel dedicated to him in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
The church in Goa has been preparing for this event since October 2022, when the decree announcing the exposition was released by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao. A committee was constituted and sub-committees for specific tasks formed.
The government got into the act with infrastructure and security support, and at the time of writing, the announcements are that Goa is ready for the exposition, and for the millions that are expected to visit Old Goa over the next few weeks.
With improved and increased transportation, coupled with better messaging and publicity of the event, this exposition will possibly bring record crowds.
They will come to Old Goa, not just from different parts of Goa, but from India, the rest of Asia and Europe, besides some from other continents, too.
Given that there are Goans spread across all continents, it is entirely possible that there will be visitors from the Americas, Africa and Australia, too.
With improved and increased transportation, coupled with better messaging and publicity of the event, this exposition will possibly bring record crowds.
Goans abroad have been making plans to visit home right from the day that the exposition was announced. And, those Goans, unable to make the trip for the exposition, will not miss the festivities, for posts are already appearing on social media of events to celebrate the feast of the saint.
This year, the exposition in Goa will add to the celebrations abroad.
An annual occurrence among the Goan diaspora, the feast of St Francis Xavier brings together those Goans who are even far away from home. That’s the magnetism of St Francis Xavier and how he keeps Goans in close embrace.
On the other hand, while the exposition does bring many Goans to Goa, it is surprising that international pilgrims do not form a substantial number of those visiting.
While they do come, there could have been much larger groups arriving, especially from his native, Spain, or from the countries where he worked.
This is true for the rest of India too, for if one goes to say Kerala, Cochin in particular, there are numerous statues of St Francis Xavier that are seen even as one drives around, and one would have liked to believe that the exposition would bring large numbers from Kerala to Goa, but is does not happen in the expected numbers.
While they do come, there could have been much larger groups arriving, especially from his native, Spain, or from the countries where he worked.
It is, therefore necessary to make the exposition not just a Goa and Goans event, but one that brings Catholics from various parts of the world to this State.
The exposition could be the first step in making Goa a pilgrimage centre. While the former capital of Goa, Old Goa, draws attention because of its world heritage status, it is yet to attain pilgrimage destination status.
