Decennial exposition of St Francis Xavier from Nov 2014 to Jan 2015

Panaji, Oct 15 (TNN): The decennial exposition of the sacred relics of Goa's patron saint, St Francis Xavier at Old Goa will be held in Old Goa next year from November 22, 2014, till January 4, 2015.

Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao issued the decree confirming the holding of the solemn event, which was last held in November 2004-January2005, in conformity with a long-standing practice followed by the archdiocese. The relics will be kept open for veneration of the faithful for 44 days.

A committee to prepare for the exposition, which draws lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of the country and the world, will be constituted soon. "The organizing committee will take charge of the preparations and draw up the whole plan once it is formed," a source at the Bishop's place told TOI. Declining to comment further, the source said it is too early to provide more details, as the committee will work out the modalities.

The sacred relics of the Spanish saint are taken in a ceremonial procession from its resting place in the mausoleum in Basilica of Bom Jesus across the church complex to the more spacious Se Cathedral for veneration during the exposition.

More than 2.25 million faithful, cutting across religious lines, venerated the relics during the last exposition.

The Basque saint was born in Navarre, Spain, on April 7, 1506, and arrived in Goa on May 6, 1542. After missionary work in India and other countries, he died on December 3, 1552, on the Sancian island on his way to China. Pope Paul V beatified him on October 25, 1619, and Pope Gregory XV canonized him in 1622.