OLD GOA
The Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier were carried in a solemn procession from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to the See Cathedral Church in a specially designed electric carriage that transported the Saint's casket, with thousands lining up and participating in the procession.
Specially chosen representatives carried the Sacred Relics from the Basilica to its door. It was then placed on the platform of the carriage and moved at a steady pace towards the Cathedral.
About 1,500 Parish Youth from different parishes, led by Fr Blaise Lobo, Director of Diocesan Youth Centre, lined up along the route on both sides in a human chain during the procession.
The altar servers and angels were in the forefront of the procession and were followed by representatives from various diocesan bodies, associations, movements, sections of Goan society, seminarians, priests, religious, and bishops, participated in the procession.
A brass band, consisting of 100 musicians and led by Fr Simon D'Cunha, President of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, played a central role in the procession.
Representatives then carried the Sacred Relics from the entrance of the See Cathedral to its interior.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão led the prayer service once the relics were placed in the Se Cathedral. After the prayers, the Bishops, priests, nuns and others began the veneration of the Relics followed by the 1,500 youth, who were part of the human chain.
The public veneration was opened only after 3 pm and a large number of people queued up at the entrance gate of the Cathedral to await their turn to pay their respects to the saint.
On Friday, the veneration of the Relics will begin at 7 am and end at 6 pm, which will be the case for the next 45 days till January 4. On January 5, the Relics will be taken back from the Cathedral to the Basilica.
Meanwhile, the inaugural ceremony went on smoothly without any incident as the security personnel and the police kept close watch on the proceedings.
