The Goan Association of Australia Inc. (GAA), celebrated their annual
St. Francis Xavier Feast Mass on 05 December 2010.
The mass was celebrated by the most Reverend Bishop, Peter Elliott. The
choir was presented by Joe & Bernadette Fernandes.
The homily will be reproduced in the next Newsletter of GAA. In the
meantime, here are few pictures of the church service along with the address
from Oscar C. Lobo at the end of the solemn celebration.
Photos:
http://bit.ly/eZAN10
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Most Reverend Bishop Peter Elliott,
Mr. Raul Fernandes, President,
Members of the Executive Committee of the Goan Association of Australia Inc,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls!
Thank you, Your lordship for gracing this occasion with your presence.
It has been some time since we last heard mass celebrated by a Bishop. I
believe the service was fantastic!
There is one common denominator between Australia and Goa and that is
St. Francis Xavier whom we call “Goencho saib” – Lord of Goa. He is a
Patron Saint of Oceania, including Australia and patron of Goa.
It was St. Ignatius who said to St. Francis “What will it profit a man
to gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul?" A great
reminder to many of us in this world that has become a material world
leave aside the song “material girl” by Madona!
ST.FRANCIS XAVIER: THE ITINERANT OF GOD: Born in Navarre, Spain, on
April 7, 1506. He left Lisbon for India from April 7, 1541, till the day
of his death,
December 3, 1552, travelled by sea 38,000 miles and a few thousand by
land. It is claimed that St. Francis Xavier spent time (intermittently)
in "bangarachem
Goem" (golden Goa). He also made many visits to Bassein in Mumbai and
not much is spoken of his visits there. St. Francis had 11 years of
missionary work in Asia.
In this period of time, languages was not a science and in most
situations was not written; with its grammar defined. Hence learning
would have been quite a challenge
Especially for this pioneering European / foreigner trying to master
several NON Indo European languages in a very short period of time!
The Catholic Goans venerate St. Francis Xavier every year as he has been
responsible for conversion, and the names we carry such as Correia, D’souza,
Fernandes, Marques etc. I take this opportunity to thank our wonderful
choir under the Leadership of Joe & Bernadette Fernandes and their team.
Our special
thanks to the volunteers and above all a Big Thank you for gracing this
occasion.
Those who have booked for lunch please proceed to the hall.
Thank you.
Warm Regards
Oscar C. Lobo
Committee Member
Goan Association of Australia Inc.
Melbourne
Together we can make a difference.
05 December 2010.
