PONDA: The feast of St Francis Xavier was on Saturday celebrated with traditional pomp with thousands of devotees from the state and other parts of the country attending the religious services at the Basilica De Bom Jesus throughout the day.

The feast high mass was celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Rev Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio, Archbishop Philip Neri Ferrao in the concelebrated mass on the theme ‘Mon’xa xrititicho korar jieum-ya sam francisk xavierak man diun-ya’ ‘Covenant between human beings and creation divine love’s manifestation.’

In his preaching, Rev Pennachio said we should all praise the God for the gift of St Francis Xavier, who has been interceding, and continues to bless the people. He said all those who have gathered here have come as pilgrims of God and that one should proclaim the word as written in the scriptures.

He said the words of St Ignatius of Loyola to St Francis Xavier, "What is the use of conquering the whole world but losing one’s soul" had a deep impact on him and he wanted to serve God and God too had his plans for St Francis Xavier who is also known to be the patron saint of the missionaries. Before he set out on the mission to Goa, St Francis Xavier had just one day to prepare. However, with faith and trust, he accepted to proclaim the word. He had come to a strange land; however, he embraced the local lifestyle, culture and the language so that he could proclaim the word and did so by reaching out to a million people.

Rev Pennachio said it is the bounden duty of every Christian to proclaim the word to others. He said God created nature and we are all connected to nature in some way or the other. However, some people, for their vested interests, misuse the gifts of nature and nature has its own ways of telling the people through unfortunate happenings. He said the people have a responsibility towards protecting nature and in the Indian culture nature has the topmost place as it is inter-related to all creations.

The choir led the faithful through soulful singing during the mass which lasted for nearly an hour. Masses were also held in Spanish along with the regular Konkani and English masses.