A view of the Basilica of Bom Jesus located at Old Goa.
Exposition of St Xavier’s relics will go on for eternity: Alfred Vaz
The convenor for the 2014 exposition of the sacred relics of St
Francis Xavier, which is a decennial event, at Old Goa, Fr Alfred Vaz
reveals how the Church would host millions of pilgrims and visiting
dignitaries from all over the world, to the best of its abilities with
the co-operation assured by the authorities. In a chat with Shaikh
Jamaluddin, Fr Vaz said that elaborate arrangements have been made, but
most of the things would be in place as soon as the monsoon ends and
added that security and traffic arrangements besides the preparation at
the spiritual site have been planned in consultation with the top police
officials.
Q: There are rumours in the air that this is the last exposition and then the relics will be laid to rest. Is it true? If not, how long will it continue?
A: There is no dearth of rumour mongers in this world and every year we hear this kind of rumours. There is no truth in it. This is being spread by the travel agents to boost their business. We will continue to hold the exposition forever.
Q: Will there be any change in the casket, clothes, cleaning inside the casket or any other move? How will the expenses for the exposition be taken care of?
A: The relics have been sealed by the authorities, and we don’t have any role to carry out any changes inside or outside, and all the expenses are being taken care of by the Basilica administration committee. Rs 10 crore is being earmarked by the government.
Q: From when will the relics be kept open for public veneration and when will the exposition conclude?
A: As usual, the exposition will be of 45-day duration and begin on November 22. It will conclude on January 4, 2015. The whole planning has been already done, but most of the things will be in place once the rains stop.
Q: Can you elaborate on the arrangements?
A: See, this is a religious event and the Church has planned to put up three different pandals at three different spots. Celebrations pertaining to the main and other religious programmes in front of the Basilica of Bom Jesus will be held in the main pandal. A second pandal would be put up for the benefit of pilgrims, who would be standing in queues to kiss the relics, while the third pandal would be for the exhibition of faith.
Q: Since it is a decennial event and you expect millions of pilgrims both, domestic as well as from abroad, how will the huge crowd be controlled?
A: There will also be three pandals put up near the Se Cathedral, which has a very large space, which can accommodate 4,000 pilgrims at a time. There would be absolutely no problem at all. Besides, the authorities will put up a huge screen for the convenience of the pilgrims. All pilgrims will be treated equally and there will not be any kind of distinction or discrimination. On every Saturday, from 7.30 p.m. onwards, vigil prayers would be held which will last for two hours and will be open to all. The government authorities will also erect tents/shelters for the pilgrims.
Q: What about the local pilgrims, who visit and stay for the novenas?
A There will be ample space for the locals, and they will continue to do what they have been doing. We also have a sizeable Christian pilgrims coming down from Kerala and Maharashtra.
Q: Are you the only priest in-charge of the exposition or is there anybody assisting you?
A: This is a global event. The Church has formed a central committee for the exposition. Besides, there are sub-committees and each panel is looking after one aspect of the exposition. Whenever we meet, we discuss about the progress made. Coordination for events like the inaugural and closing functions has been assigned to one committee.
Then there is the liturgy committee, which will look after the masses. We also have exhibition committee, souvenir committee, memento committee and health-wise volunteers.
Q: Nowadays, people are more concerned about the security. How will you tackle this aspect?
A: Since the government is taking care of it, we do not have to bother about it. Superintendent of police Bosco George has been named as commissioner of police for the whole event and Deputy Superintendent of Police, SDPO Tiswadi, Serafin Dias and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Dharmesh Angle will look after the main aspect of security and traffic. All of them have visited the place and after conducting a detailed study, all arrangements have been planned.
Q: During the last exposition, some kind of row had erupted between the panchayat and the Church over the hawkers and stall owners, and the District Collector had to intervene…..
A: This time, panchayat will look into all the aspects relating to hawkers and stall owners and the Church will play no role in it.
Q: There are rumours in the air that this is the last exposition and then the relics will be laid to rest. Is it true? If not, how long will it continue?
A: There is no dearth of rumour mongers in this world and every year we hear this kind of rumours. There is no truth in it. This is being spread by the travel agents to boost their business. We will continue to hold the exposition forever.
Q: Will there be any change in the casket, clothes, cleaning inside the casket or any other move? How will the expenses for the exposition be taken care of?
A: The relics have been sealed by the authorities, and we don’t have any role to carry out any changes inside or outside, and all the expenses are being taken care of by the Basilica administration committee. Rs 10 crore is being earmarked by the government.
Q: From when will the relics be kept open for public veneration and when will the exposition conclude?
A: As usual, the exposition will be of 45-day duration and begin on November 22. It will conclude on January 4, 2015. The whole planning has been already done, but most of the things will be in place once the rains stop.
Q: Can you elaborate on the arrangements?
A: See, this is a religious event and the Church has planned to put up three different pandals at three different spots. Celebrations pertaining to the main and other religious programmes in front of the Basilica of Bom Jesus will be held in the main pandal. A second pandal would be put up for the benefit of pilgrims, who would be standing in queues to kiss the relics, while the third pandal would be for the exhibition of faith.
Q: Since it is a decennial event and you expect millions of pilgrims both, domestic as well as from abroad, how will the huge crowd be controlled?
A: There will also be three pandals put up near the Se Cathedral, which has a very large space, which can accommodate 4,000 pilgrims at a time. There would be absolutely no problem at all. Besides, the authorities will put up a huge screen for the convenience of the pilgrims. All pilgrims will be treated equally and there will not be any kind of distinction or discrimination. On every Saturday, from 7.30 p.m. onwards, vigil prayers would be held which will last for two hours and will be open to all. The government authorities will also erect tents/shelters for the pilgrims.
Q: What about the local pilgrims, who visit and stay for the novenas?
A There will be ample space for the locals, and they will continue to do what they have been doing. We also have a sizeable Christian pilgrims coming down from Kerala and Maharashtra.
Q: Are you the only priest in-charge of the exposition or is there anybody assisting you?
A: This is a global event. The Church has formed a central committee for the exposition. Besides, there are sub-committees and each panel is looking after one aspect of the exposition. Whenever we meet, we discuss about the progress made. Coordination for events like the inaugural and closing functions has been assigned to one committee.
Then there is the liturgy committee, which will look after the masses. We also have exhibition committee, souvenir committee, memento committee and health-wise volunteers.
Q: Nowadays, people are more concerned about the security. How will you tackle this aspect?
A: Since the government is taking care of it, we do not have to bother about it. Superintendent of police Bosco George has been named as commissioner of police for the whole event and Deputy Superintendent of Police, SDPO Tiswadi, Serafin Dias and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Dharmesh Angle will look after the main aspect of security and traffic. All of them have visited the place and after conducting a detailed study, all arrangements have been planned.
Q: During the last exposition, some kind of row had erupted between the panchayat and the Church over the hawkers and stall owners, and the District Collector had to intervene…..
A: This time, panchayat will look into all the aspects relating to hawkers and stall owners and the Church will play no role in it.
Train No.
|
Train Name
|
Origin
|
Dep.Time
|
Destination
|
Arr.Time
|
Travel Time
|
Days Of Run
|
||||||
M
|
T
|
W
|
T
|
F
|
S
|
S
|
|||||||
09009
|
00:15
|
MADGAON
|
16:30
|
16:15
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
Y
|
||
10103
|
MUMBAI
CST
|
07:10
|
MADGAON
|
20:10
|
13:00
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
12618
|
08:35
|
MADGAON
|
20:30
|
11:55
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
||
12218
|
11:00
|
MADGAON
|
22:15
|
11:15
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
||
01067
|
11:20
|
MADGAON
|
00:10
|
12:50
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
||
16345
|
LOKMANYATILAK T
|
11:40
|
MADGAON
|
23:30
|
11:50
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
01043
|
13:00
|
KARMALI
|
01:40
|
12:40
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
||
12619
|
LOKMANYATILAK
T
|
15:20
|
MADGAON
|
02:35
|
11:15
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
22908
|
16:25
|
MADGAON
|
05:30
|
13:05
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
||
16333
|
20:30
|
MADGAON
|
09:20
|
12:50
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
Y
|
N
|
N
|
N
|
||
12133
|
MUMBAI CST
|
22:00
|
MADGAON
|
08:50
|
10:50
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
10111
|
MUMBAI CST
|
23:05
|
MADGAON
|
12:30
|
|||||||||
Train No.
|
Train Name
|
Origin
|
Dep.Time
|
Destination
|
Arr.Time
|
Travel Time
|
Days Of Run
|
||||||
M
|
T
|
W
|
T
|
F
|
S
|
S
|
|||||||
12051
|
DADAR
|
05:25
|
MADGAON
|
16:00
|
10:35
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
10103
|
MUMBAI CST
|
07:10
|
MADGAON
|
20:10
|
13:00
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
Y
|
|
