Staff Reporter
Margao
Gearing up for the conclusion of 18th decennial Exposition of the sacred relics of Saint Francis Xavier, the Exposition Secretariat on Friday held a review meeting with officials concerned to prepare for the smooth closing ceremony of the event at Old Goa.
The Exposition, which started on November 21, will end on January 4.
Exposition commissioner Sandip Jacques, convenor of the Exposition committee of the Church Fr Henry Falcao and others discussed preparedness for the closing event of the Exposition.
According to Fr Falcao, prayers will begin at 9 am at Se Cathedral Church on January 5 (closing day of the Exposition). A procession with the relics will start at 9.30 am at the cathedral, where the veneration has been held.
A mass will be celebrated after the relics are ceremoniously kept back inside Basilica of Bom Jesus.
The mass will be presided over by Archbishop of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao at the huge pandal put up outside the basilica.
“Priests and nuns will take part in the procession. Walking in the procession for everyone will not be possible.
“However, representatives of security personnel, helpers, medical staff, cleaning agencies, the police and all those who volunteered in the 45 days of the Exposition will be allowed to take part in the procession as a token of appreciation,” Fr Falcao said.
The youth will form a human chain along the procession route.
Exposition Secretariat vice-chairman and minister Aleixo Sequeira said nearly 75 lakh people visited Old Goa for the veneration, and that final figures would rise by January 4.
It is pertinent to note that the Exposition attracted a large number of the faithful and visitors notably on December 27 and 28. Serpentine queues were observed for the veneration, forcing the Exposition committee of the Church to make changes in the timings. The veneration during these days started at 6 am and concluded at 7 pm, instead of the stipulated timings from 7 am 6 pm.
