Salesian of INP animate novena of St Francis Xavier

Nigel Pinto SDB

28 Nov 2023

Salesians

The Second Day of the Novena in honour of Saint Francis Xavier at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa was celebrated with great devotion and fervour by members of the Salesian Family. Around 20 Salesian Priests belonging to the Panjim Konkan Province gathered around the altar to concelebrate the Holy Eucharist with Vice Provincial of Salesian Panjim Konkan Province, Father Banzelao Teixeira, as the main celebrant on November 26, 2023 at Bon Jesu Basilica, Old Goa.

In his concise and well worded homily, Father Teixeira, called on the faithful to imitate Mother Teresa in witnessing the words of Jesus in the Gospel, whatever you did to one of the least of these brethren you did it to me. Emphasizing the fact that love has no boundaries, he urged the faithful to contribute to the building of God's Kingdom. People today experience a different kind of hunger and thirst - the hunger and thirst of loneliness and rejection, said Father Teixeira. He thus appealed to the faithful to GIVE off themselves - to give till it hurts.

The mass was well attended by the members of the Salesian Family, Salesian Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Co-operators, members of ADMA, past pupils and students from the schools in Goa. The youth group of Don Bosco Panjim led the singing with their choir.