Tag: St Francis Xavier Feast

International

Goans in New York Come Together to Celebrate Feast of St Francis Xavier

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral International Desk

The New York Goan Association’s annual celebration of the Feast of St Francis Xavier was held on December 7 at St Luke’s Church Hall in Whitestone, New York, bringing together over 130 members of the Goan and Indian community in a vibrant expression of faith, culture and togetherness.

The day began with a well-attended Holy Mass that set a reverent and reflective tone for the celebrations. Following the Mass, members and guests gathered at the Church Hall, which was beautifully decorated by the association’s committee, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.

Guests were welcomed with an array of appetisers including chicken lollipops, vegetable spring rolls, kebabs and haryali chicken. The programme was set in motion by Master of Ceremonies Valerian Rodrigues, who opened the event with the traditional Goan March. New York Goan Association President Abigail Couto then addressed the gathering, thanking sponsors, members and committee volunteers for their dedication. She highlighted the association’s ongoing work in New York and India, noting that proceeds from the raffle baskets would support charitable initiatives in Goa, Mumbai and Nashik, including orphanages, homes for the aged and hospices.

Music and entertainment kept the celebrations lively, with DJ Evette providing foot-tapping tracks alongside live performances. A special highlight for younger members was the arrival of Santa Claus, continuing a cherished tradition that brought joy and excitement to the children. The feast cake was cut amidst the singing of the traditional feast song, adding to the sense of shared heritage.

The audience was also treated to melodious performances by young singing talent Leanne Rodrigues and by Joey, whose songs added a special charm to the afternoon. Lunch featured a generous spread of Goan, Indian and Portuguese cuisine, catered by Spice Symphony, The Order and O Lavrador, complemented by a signature salad prepared by a committee member. Traditional sorpotel, made and sponsored by The Order, was enjoyed with sannas, while the menu also included seafood paella, Peruvian chicken, chana masala, fish curry, lomein and more. Wines for the event were sponsored by the New York Wine Exchange and the Couto family.

The event was coordinated entirely by the New York Goan Association committee, whose members reiterated that keeping the spirit of Goemkarponn alive in New York and bringing families together remains central to the association’s mission. The celebration stood as a reminder that even far from home, Goan traditions, faith and community continue to thrive.

#faith

Cardinal Ferrão Unveils New Konkani (Roman Script) Missal at Old Goa

allycaralgoa

Old Goa, December 3, 2025 — A landmark moment for the Catholic community in Goa unfolded at the Basilica of Bom Jesus as Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão formally released the much-awaited New Missal in Konkani (Romi Misa-Gronth) during the solemn feast Mass of St. Francis Xavier. The unveiling marks one of the most significant liturgical developments in recent decades for the Church in Goa.

In his address, Cardinal Ferrão expressed deep appreciation for the Commission for the Liturgy in Konkani (CLK–Goa), acknowledging the years of research, translation, consultation, and pastoral collaboration that have gone into producing the new liturgical text in the Roman script.

A Collaborative Effort Across Dioceses

During the ceremony, Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes launched Misache Somarombhnnechi Manddavoll – Soho-Somarombhpeanchea Upeoga Pasot, the Order of Mass for Concelebrants. The wide-scale effort to develop the Missal involved the dioceses of Mangalore, Goa and Daman, Sindhudurg, Karwar, Udupi, and Belgaum.

The first regional meeting took place on March 26, 2010, at Bishop’s House, Mangalore, chaired by Bishop Aloysius D’Souza. Representatives from Goa included Fr. Afonso Mendonça, Fr. Tomas Lobo, and the late Fr. Cristovao Caldeira.

To ensure accuracy and unity, the Commission reviewed texts using a four-column structure: Latin, English, the current Konkani text, and the proposed Konkani translation. Two groups were formed to accelerate the work, each responsible for specific sections of the Mass. Meetings were held every three months, lasting four to five days at a stretch.

Rigorous Review and Musical Unification

Each draft of the Missal was reviewed by experts, including over 20 priests from Goa proficient in Roman-script Konkani and Latin. Their insights led to further refinements, ensuring that the final text was pastorally sound and linguistically precise.

A Music Committee was also constituted to standardise tunes across dioceses. The team included Fr. Afonso Mendonca, Fr. Ronald Serrao, Fr. Tomas Lobo, Bishop Simião Fernandes, Fr. Lino De Sa, Fr. Bernado Cota, Fr. Matthew Rebello, Fr. Joe Rodrigues, Fr. Romeo Monteiro, and Fr. Seby Vaz.

Implementation from Ash Wednesday

The New Konkani Missal will officially come into liturgical use from Ash Wednesday. Preparatory sessions for families, catechists, and parish communities will begin during Advent, supported by a new booklet on the Order of the Mass published by the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy.

Two additional booklets—The Order of the Mass for the Faithful and The Order of the Children’s Mass—were released by Mathew De Souza and Sr. Alexia Braz FMCK, respectively.

Fr. Afonso Mendonça expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to this years-long mission, noting that the new Missal represents a unified voice of the Konkani-speaking Church.

The release marks a historic step for the faithful of Goa, offering a beautifully revised, deeply studied, and pastorally enriched liturgical text that will guide worship for generations to come.