PANAJI
Nearly 28,000 devotees carried the aspirations and prayers of people from all over Goa to God through their penitential walk organised by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, to the facade of the Our Lady of Good Health Church, Old Church of Sancoale on the first Sunday of Lent.
This year being the Jubilee year the theme of the pilgrimage was titled as “Pilgrims of Hope, Let Us Proclaim the Good News”.
The place also had special significance as the Old Church of Sancoale is one of the pious places in Goa where one can gain indulgence during this Jubilee year.
With pilgrims walking from five designated centres -- Neura, Cansaulim, Bambolim, Verna, and Vasco -- to the facade of the Sancoale church, the scene was that of a sea of people seeking blessings and grace for themselves and their dear ones.
The spiritual walk culminated with adoration at 5 am, followed by Holy Mass. The petitions brought by the people were lifted up to the Lord in a special way before the mass.
In his introduction at the beginning of the Mass Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao invited the people to take example of our Lord Jesus Christ who walked as a pilgrim of Hope in this world. “Inspite of all trials and tribulations He remained faithful to his mission of saving us from the slavery of sin and death and offered us new life and hope”, Cardinal said.
Cardinal Ferrao called upon all those who participated in the penitential walk to renew their lives and be beacons of faith and hope to everyone.
Auxiliary bishop, Simiao Fernandes reminded the people of the message of Pope Francis for this Jubilee year wherein the Pope exhorts the people to journey within themselves to renew their lives by overcoming sinful deeds, to journey to the peripheries to reach out to those in need and to let this journey be journey of Hope so that we always spread the Good News by overcoming all trials and temptations.
Another special feature this year were the depictions of the images of the Passion of Christ and scenes depicting Christ accompanying us in our difficult situations, made by youth and faithful of Agalli, Borda, Confraria members of Assolna Parish, Consua youth, Verna youth and Paroda Parishioners.
A book consisting of prayer services for families and small Christian communities, for the season of Lent was released by the Pastoral secretariat under the leadership of Fr Leo Fernandes at the hands of the Archbishop and Auxiliary Bishop. The book will be available for the public at Lighthouse, Margao, St. Paul’s Panjim and Pastoral secretariat Panjim.
