Gloomy Goa still remembers '86 visit
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Catholics in Goa woke up to a gloomy Sunday, the first
after Easter, and headed for the morning mass at the
150-odd churches and chapels across this coastal state
to pray for Pope John Paul II, who died in Rome some
hours back.
The Sunday mass was dedicated to the Pope with a
special mention being made of him. Those who came to
pray said the Pope died on a good day as it was a day
of the feast of Divine Mercy. "Pope John Paul II had,
in fact, instituted the feast of Divine Mercy on the
first Sunday after Easter a few years ago. The
liturgical celebrations of Divine Mercy Sunday begin
on Saturday evening coinciding with the time when the
Pope died, " said Fr Loila Pereira, the spokesperson
for the Archbishop of Goa and Daman and the Patriarch
of the East Indies Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony, was designated the
archdiocese of the East in 1553 and its jurisdiction
extended across the globe, from Africa to Japan. With
around 30% of its total population (approx 13 lakh)
Catholic, the death of the Pope has cast a gloomy
spell here.
The papal flag (yellow and white with the symbol of
arms of the office of the Pope) flew at half-mast at
the sprawling Bishop's House atop Altinho (hilltop)
here, overlooking the river side of the state capital
and the quiet flowing Mandovi river.
The Pope, during his visit to Goa in February 1986,
had stayed at the Bishop's House and also held a
public mass at the Campal ground in the state capital.
"I was then a priest and attended the mass. The Pope
was a tall man, imposing, and inspired faith
spontaneously," recounted Fr Antimo Gomes, parish
priest of the over four-century-old Church of
Immaculate Conception, popularly called "Panjim
Church." Says Nazima Godinho, "I was then a small girl
and remember how excited we all were to meet him."
______
Archbishop's House, Panjim
April 5, 2005
STATEMENT
It is hereby informed that, in conformity with the
Circular of Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and
Daman, a Solemn Mass will be held in the Cathedral
Church of Old Goa on the 8th instant, Friday, the day
of the Funeral of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, to
thank God for the gift of John Paul to the Church and
to the World and to enable the people of Goa to unite
themselves with the rest of the world as it pays its
last homage to this one person who contributed so much
to the common good of the human family.
The Mass, which will be presided over by the
Archbishop of Goa and Daman, with the participation of
the Clergy, the Religious and the Faithful of the
Archdiocese, will be preceded by a Prayer Service of
twenty minutes of duration, starting at 9.40 a.m., in
the same Cathedral. Catholics are urged to take part
in this celebration and people of other faiths wishing
to join in the celebration are most welcome to do so.
Priests desiring to concelebrate are required to bring
their own vestments, without fail and are expected to
be at the venue at least by 9.45 a.m.
Media persons wishing to cover the event are requested
to meet Fr. Loiola Pereira in the Cathedral between
9.00 and 9.30 a.m. They could also call 9822181790 in
advance.
Fr. J. Loiola Pereira
Secretary, DCSCM
- Forwarded by http://www.goa-world.com & http://www.colaco.net
The Death of the Holy Father
http://frpat.com/jpii/jpiimenu.htm
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