Goan associations and communities across the world have either conducted or have planned events to commemorate the Feast of St Francis Xavier. THE GLOBAL GOENKAR presents details of various religious and social events to celebrate the Goencho Saib.
The Feast will be celebrated by Goans, Mangaloreans and East Indians in Adelaide on December 2 at the Cathedral, the oldest in Australia, which in fact is named after the ‘Goencho Saib’.
The Feast Mass in Konkani will be celebrated by Fr Lancy D'Silva, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, along with Fr Santhosh Nazareth and Fr Santosh Pereira.
“With increasing number of Goans in Adelaide, the Feast of St Francis Xavier is seeing bigger celebrations year after year. Goans have been at the forefront of celebrating the Feast in Adelaide," says Goa-Konkan community leader Blaise Fernandes.
"The Feast is celebrated in a rather unique way in Adelaide where the people from all over Konkan region, especially Goans, Mangaloreans and East Indians, celebrate the Feast with a Konkani Mass which includes a mix of both Goan and Mangalorean Konkani prayers and hymns," he elaborates.
The after-Mass get-together is usually accompanied by Goan-Mangalorean food and music.
The Adelaide Cathedral will celebrate the Feast on December 3 at 11am, followed by a ticketed lunch in the Cathedral Hall. The lunch event which is being held by a Goan, Agnello Fernandes, will be a fund raiser for the Kangaroo Island Catholic Parish.
*****
The Goan Overseas Association of New South Wales (NSW) in Australia will celebrate the Feast on December 2 at 11.15 am in the All Saints Catholic Church, 48 George Street, Liverpool 2170, Sydney.
The Community Feast Mass in English and Konkani will be celebrated by a Sydney-based Goan Priest Fr Vincy Da Costa, followed by an afternoon of entertainment, bingo and a visit from Santa. Lunch and Goan sweets will be on sale in the church hall.
The social gathering in the Hall will include Goan stalls set up by members selling Goan food and Goan sweets, a free Goan lunch buffet set up for retired senior members, Christmas Tree with Santa distributing gifts for kids, a group singing Christmas Carols and DJ for dancing music.
*****
The Goan Overseas Association of Victoria will celebrate the Feast on December 3 at Nicholson St, Fitzroy North, Melbourne.
The Mass will be celebrated at 10 am in the St Brigid's Hall, followed by a brass band and Pursanv (procession) at 11 am and festivities at 12 pm onwards.
Goan sweets and Chonne will be sold at the hall. A buffet lunch will be catered by Dorelli, while Shez and DJ Ben will provide music. Member's children born on or after December 3, 2011 will receive a free gift from Santa.
BAHRAIN
The Young Goans Club in the Kingdom of Bahrain will celebrate the Feast which coincides with 70 years of the club’s existence.
This Annual Day celebration includes a lavish spread at the Dine & Dance Nite on December 7 at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa commencing at 8 pm.
The popular online duo ‘Marcia & Marc’ will interact and entertain with their lively performance and stage presence. During the course of the evening, there will be a Christmas Tree Party for children below 12 years of age.
CANADA
The Quebec Goan Association (QGA) will celebrate the Feast at the St John Fisher Catholic Church, 120 Av. Summerhill, Pointe-Claire, on December 2.
The Feast Mass at 6.30 pm will be celebrated by Fr Kalluvila Sibichan and Homilist Deacon, Brian Cordeiro with the Melodic Stars Choir intoning the hymns in both Konkani and English to add a special element to the Mass.
The Mass will be followed by a social in the Parish basement hall. The DJ and Emcee will be Amber Da Costa, while the Food Caterers will be Mama’s Kitchen and the QGA Committee.
*****
The Goan Overseas Association (GOA) of Toronto will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at the Guardian Angels Church, Brampton, on December 3 at 1.30 pm.
The Mass will be followed by a Feast Fair with a Vendor Bazaar at the Goan Community Centre
20 Strathearn Avenue, Unit 5 Brampton.
*****
The Goan Overseas Association (GOA) of Vancouver will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, 8842 - 119 street, Delta, BC, on December 2 at 12 noon.
The main celebrant will be Fr Nixon D’Silva, while the choir will sing Konkani hymns at the Feast Mass. The Mass will be followed by a small get-together for tea/coffee and a light snack.
*****
The Goan Association, Calgary will celebrate the Feast at St Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, 321 90 Ave SE, AB T2J OA1 on December 3, at 1 pm, followed by a get together at the Church Hall.
INDIA
The St John Bosco Goan Association, Borivali West in Mumbai will celebrate the 5th Annual Feast of its patron St Francis Xavier at the St John Bosco Church Borivali West, with a Mass on December 3 at 5.30 pm, followed by a get-together, music, dance, games and buffet dinner at Church hall from 7 pm onwards.
*****
The Goan Cultural Association in Borivli-Mumbai will celebrate the 14th Annual Thanksgiving Mass in Honour of St Francis Xavier at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church on December 3 at 5 pm.
The Mass will be followed by a Konkani musical presentation ‘Goenchim Kantaram’, an Opening Group singing hymn to St Francis Xavier, Group Mando singing, Goan songs performance by Amanda and the Band, Goan songs performance by Yoko and the Band, Novelty Dance and a Lucky Dip. There will be prizes for the lucky dancing couple and spot Prizes.
*****
The Goan Outreach Association, Mumbai, will celebrate the Feast at Our Lady of Fatima Church, Vidyavihar Mumbai, on December 3.
The highlights of the event includes a Members Thanksgiving Eucharistic Celebration at 5.30 pm, followed by the G.O.A. ‘Members Family-Nite’ comprising the Annual Academic Awards to Members Children (all faculties) who have excelled in Academic year 2022-2023, Konkani poetry competition (open for all ages for promotion of our language & literature), entertaining 30 children from an orphanage home sponsored by members, Konkani Skit, songs and games by members and a traditional dance and dinner.
The event also marks the 62nd anniversary of the Association which was established on December 3, 1961 for the Goan Community and commemoration of the Patron Saint Francis Xavier.
*****
The St Francis Xavier Church at Dabul-Mumbai celebrated the Novena and Feast of St Francis Xavier. The Novena Masses in preparation for the Feast were celebrated Konkani at 5.30 pm and in English at 7 pm.
The Novena Masses were preached by a Redemptorist priest from Goa. On December 3, the Feast Mass will be celebrated at 7.30 am (Konkani), while the Feast Mass at 9.30 am will be celebrated by Fr Lawrence Ferrao SJ.
Later, the Parish will host the 'Night of the Nights' at 6.30 pm, with dance, food and fun. There will be DJ music spot prizes, prizes for the best costumes (movie star), best creative costume and most colourful costume.
*****
The Karnataka Goan Association in Bangalore celebrated the Feast with a Mass in the St Joseph’s Boys High School Chapel, Museum Road, on November 26 at 5.30 pm. Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao presided over the Mass. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by dinner.
*****
The St Francis Xavier Goan Society in Delhi, which has been founded over a hundred years ago, will celebrate the Feast on December 3 with a Mass in Konkani at the Fr Agnel School Hall, which will include a Konkani choir and singing of the litany. The Mass will be followed by a cultural programme, games, tambola, etc.
IRELAND
The Irish Goa Community will celebrate the Feast at St Anthony's Church, Kilcoole-Wicklow on December 3 at 6 pm. The Feast Mass will be celebrated by Fr Patrick D’Souza. After Mass, there will be a reception at the St Patrick hall.
*****
The Goan community will celebrate the Feast at SFX Church, Gardiner Street Upper,
Dublin 01, Ireland, on December 2 at 1 pm. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr Patrick D'Souza
(SFX, Goan Chaplaincy - London -UK), Fr Valerian Castellino, CSC, (Mangalore – Ireland), Fr Suresh Babu (Vijayawada – Dublin) and Fr Niall Leahy, SJ. (Parish Priest, SFX Church, Dublin).
KENYA
The Friends of St Francis Xavier will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at the Goan Institute, Juja Road, Nairobi, on December 3 at 11:30 am. The Mass will be followed by celebration, which will include luncheon, dancing and merrymaking.
*****
The Goan Community, Mombasa, will celebrate the Feast at the GI badminton hall on December 3. The Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr Correa at 1 pm, followed by a traditional lunch, trook and music by a Duo Band.
NEW ZEALAND
The Goan Overseas Association of New Zealand will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at St Therese Church, 463 Mt Albert Road, Auckland on December 3 at 11 am, followed by lunch and festivities in the Parish hall. The Goan community will also have singing of Mandos and carol singing to usher in the Christmas season.
“We continue to work towards bringing families together to keep our Goan culture alive,” said GOANZ President Joel Pereira.
PAKISTAN
The Goinkar’s Own Academy (GOA) celebrates every year the Feast with a Solemn High Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Karachi, on December 2.
The main celebrant will be Archbishop of Karachi Benny Travas, Parish Priest Fr Benjamin Shahzad and other co-celebrants. Cardinal Joseph Coutts will preside over the Mass. The Rosary, Liturgy of the Word, Prayers of the Faithful and the Hymns will be read/ sung in Konkani and English by the GOA Committee, Choir and musicians of St Anthony’s Church. The faithful will partake in refreshments after Mass. Dinner will be hosted by the GOA for Archbishop Travas and the co-celebrants along with the nuns from St Joseph’s Convent, some benefactors and the choir.
QATAR
Goans in Doha celebrated the Feast on December 1 at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Doha, with the Feast Mass at 4.30 pm at Arabia Hall.
Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao presided over the Eucharistic celebration, while Fr. Rahul Fernandes was the visiting preacher.
The Mass was followed by a Goan cultural programme. The main attraction of the programme was the Dekhni dance performed by young girls and ladies hailing from Goa and based in Qatar. This was for the first time a Dekhni dance was staged in Qatar and costumes especially designed were flown from Goa.
TANZANIA
St Xavier's Society in collaboration with The Dar es Salaam Institute will celebrate the Feast and the 131st anniversary of the Goan Community in Tanzania on December 3.
A Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph's Cathedral at 8.30 am with the kissing of the relic, followed by a get together at The Dar es Salaam Institute at 1 pm. the programme will include music, tambola and a Christmas performance.
*****
The Goan community in Arusha will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at the Arusha Institute on December 3 at 10 am. The Mass will be followed with serving of refreshments, Tambola and lunch.
UAE
The St Michael's Sharjah Goan Community will celebrate the Feast on December 2 at 9.45 am, followed by traditional cultural programmes.
The community participated in the Novena from November 23 and Fr Kennedy Menezes OFM Cap came specially from Goa for the Novena and Festal Mass. There will be a grotto of St Francis Xavier in the Church compound.
The Feast Mass will be followed by Traditional Goan Brass Band, a Cultural Programme in the Parish Hall and Traditional Goan Food. About 1,200 devotees are expected to take part in the Feast.
UGANDA
The Goan Community of Kampala, Uganda will celebrate the Feast at Christ The King Church, Kampala on Sunday, December 3 at 3 pm.
UK
The Pilar Fathers and Goan priests in the UK and Ireland have been participating in various services in the UK to mark the Feast of St Francis Xavier.
Fr Patrick D’Souza SFX (Goan Chaplaincy, London-UK), celebrated the Feast Mass at St Michael’s Church, Ashford on November 28.
The Pilar Fathers celebrated a Feast Mass in Mitcham on November 30 at 7.30 pm with Fr Linford Fernandes as the main celebrant. The Goan staff at Northwick Park Hospital gathered for their annual Feast Mass celebrated by Fr Feroz Fernandes in the Hospital Chapel on December 1 at 3.30 pm.
On December 2, Feast Masses will be celebrated by Fr Stephen Dias at St Anthony’s Church, Forest Gate (12 pm), Fr Linford Fernandes at St Anselm’s Church, Southall (4 pm), Fr Feroz Fernandes at Our Lady of the Visitation Church, Greenford (4 pm), Fr Jovito D’Souza at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hayes (4 pm), Fr Mark Furtado in Sacred Heart and Holy Souls Church, Tipton, Midlands (4 pm) and St Anthony’s Church, Wythenshawe, Manchester (11 am), Fr Roshy Robert at St Andrew’s Church, Thornton Heath (1 pm). Fr Patrick D’Souza will celebrate the Feast Mass at Dublin-Ireland on December 2 at 1 pm.
On December 3, Feast Masses will be celebrated by Fr Stephen Dias at Queen of Apostles Church, Heston (3 pm), Fr Jovito D’Souza at St Joseph’s Church, Wembley (4 pm), Fr Linford Fernandes at SS. Martin and Michael Church, Hounslow (7.15 pm), and Fr Mark Furtado at St Joseph’s Church, Bridgewater, (5 pm).
On December 4, Feast Masses will be celebrated by Fr Oliver Antao at Our Lady and St Christopher Church, Cranford (6 pm) and Fr Mark Furtado at St Ethelbert’s Church, Slough, (6 pm). On the same day, the Goan Chaplaincy, Swindon, will celebrate Feast Masses at Holy Rood Church at 8 am (English), 9 am, and 6.30 pm, and Fr Francis Colaco will celebrate the Feast Mass at St Peter's Church, Swindon, at 7 pm.
On December 9, Fr Lucas Rodrigues will celebrate the Feast Mass at St Osburg’s Church, Coventry at noon and Fr Stephen Dias at St James Church, Reading, at 2.30 pm.
*****
The St Francis Xavier’s Feast will be celebrated for the first time at the House of Commons in London on December 4 from 5-7 pm.
The event is organised by Pamila Rodrigues at Grimond Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, and will be hosted by Seema Malhotra, MP for Feltham and Heston. A representative from the High Commission of India and Deputy Mayor of Swindon Borough Council Imtiyaz Shaikh will also be present at the event. There will be a religious service led by Fr Feroz Fernandes and a choir will perform Konkani hymns.
*****
The 49th Anniversary of St Francis Xavier's Feast will be celebrated by the Thornton Heath Goans at St Andrew's church, Thornton Heath, Surrey, on December 2, commencing with the Eucharistic celebration at 1 pm, followed by social/dancing in the church hall.
Music will be provided by String-a-Long, while snacks and meal will be catered by by Bernie’s. There will be raffles and prizes.
This feast is being celebrated by the Goans for the last 48 years which was initiated by the Africa Goans when they first stepped foot in London U. K. Goans.
In the past, all proceeds were donated to St Andrew’s church, HIV patients and their families, cancer hospitals, orphanages in goa, vocations and seminarian, accident victims families and others.
*****
Goans in Heston/Hounslow will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church, Heston, on December 3 at 1 pm, followed by dinner/dance at the Pope John Centre.
The event is being celebrated after a break of about 4 years due to the Covid pandemic. The Goan community has been celebrating this feast since 2009.
In the past, all profits from the feast celebrations were distributed to local church charity, Pilar Fathers in London and Goa, charities in Goa (Shanti Avedna in Loutolim).
*****
The East London & Essex Goans will celebrate the Feast on December 3 at 12 pm, with a Mass to be celebrated by Fr David Pearce, followed by a social gathering until 8 pm at Fords Sports Club, Aldborough Road South, Newbury Park, Essex. Music will be provided by ‘Treble Makers’, while catering is by Jojo.
*****
The Golden Goa Association, Southampton, will organise its 13th Feast celebrations of St Francis Xavier on December 2 at Holy Family Catholic Church Hall, Redbridge Hill, from 3 pm to 10 pm.
RJ Roque Vaz, President of the Association, said: “We have been fortunate enough to make it a free event because of the generosity of people not just from Goa but from around the globe. This event will display Goa’s rich cultural heritage, including an authentic cuisine mostly prepared by families.”
UK’s top Goan band ‘Treble Makers’ will be in attendance, while popular DJ Greg Cardozo from Southall will provide scintillating music.
RJ Roque Vaz will be the event manager and compere. Along with him will be the fitness personality Anjali D’Costa (Southampton) and noted compere, Konkani stage actress, singer Ciana D’Costa (Southall) as event MCs.
Goans from various parts of UK will be travelling to take part in this celebration.
Awaaz 99.8 FM Southampton are the radio partners, while the main sponsor is London’s Goan culture promoter, Tiatr organiser and well-known philanthropist Joe Valent Braganza, who will also be the chief guest.
*****
The United Goans of Aberdeen (UGA) will celebrate the Feast on December 2 with a Konkani Mass celebrated by Fr Anil Gonsalves at St Joseph’s Church, Aberdeen, at 6 pm.
The Mass will be followed by a musical fest (Dine & Dance) at the Hilton Community Centre from 7.30 pm onwards. DJ Ethax will entertain the crowd with his beats while a cultural programme and games is planned for the evening. The UGA celebrate the SFX Feast annually with the love and support of the Goans in Aberdeen.
*****
The Goan Community of Wythenshawe, Manchester will celebrate the feast with a Mass at St Anthonys RC Church, Wythenshawe, M22 OWR, on December 2 at 11 am, followed by a fellowship meal at the Church Community Hall.
*****
The Goan Community Association Ealing will present the St Francis Xavier Dine and Dance at the St Anselm's Church Hall, UB2 4BE on December 2 from 7 pm onwards. Music will be provided by The Reunion Band, while Joyce de Souza will be the compere. All proceeds will go to the St Anselm's Church.
USA
Californian Goans will celebrate the Feast with a Mass in Konkani to be celebrated by Fr Bernard John D'Sa at the St Athanasius Catholic Church, 160 N Rengstorff Ave, Mountain View, California on December 4 at 5 pm. The Mass will be followed by a procession, litany and dinner at the Church Hall.
*****
The Goan community will celebrate the Feast with a Mass at the Assumption Catholic Church, 901 Roselane Houston Texas on December 4 at 1.30 am.
*****
