Sancoale: The annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage was held at Sancoale today, 18th February, 2023, in the early hours of the day, to initiate the spiritual preparation for Lent. The theme for the Pilgrimage “Let us journey together on the path of Penance and be Proclaimers of Hope.” The Pilgrimage is a help for the faithful to begin the Holy season of Lent with Penance and sacrifice reflecting on the Love of God and Our response to His Love.
His eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, priests, religious and catholics as well as some people from other religions participated in this walking pilgrimage. While highlighting the sacrificial aspect of the walk, His Eminence reminded the faithful that all of us are pilgrims in this world. we do not bring anything with us while we are born and neither take anything back after our death. What is more important is giving first place to God, who is the giver of Life and living selflessly for the good of others. He cautioned people against being selfish, and giving more importance to the worldly things. He also exhorted people to be united , and not be agents of division . He further envisaged that we need to be instruments of peace, truth and justice and to shun away corruption, deceit, and injustice. He ended by saying that we need to do away with selfishness and by basing our selves on the life and values of Jesus to repent, ask God’s forgiveness and to selflessly love God and neighbour.
People began their journey to the venue from as early as 12.00am. People moved in from three Centres in the South and two in North. The Archbishop himself walked with the people from Bambolim to Sancoale. As more and more people experienced blessings and miracles during the previous penitential walk, people from different faiths too participated in this event praying to Mother Mary for good health and blessings upon them and their loved ones. This in fact brought to fore the age old unity among Goans.
At the end of the Mass Fr. Ligorinho D’Costa, the Convenor of the event thanked Holy trinity One God for His Blessings and Our Lady of Health, patroness of the Old Sancoale Church in making the walking pilgrimage a successful one. He thanked the Archbishop for inspiring the people to participate in this pilgrimage. He offered his special thanks to government officials and departments, the Police, Traffic Police, Fire Services, etc for all their support. He thanked the Directorate of Health, Doctors, ambulance drivers, Nurses and other volunteers who helped in the safe organisation of the event.
He thanked the Diocesan Youth Centre, Diocesan lay Apostolate and Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media, Diocesan Liturgical centre, Besides the organising committee for their role in the excellent organisation of the event. He thanked the Choir from Merces Parish, Parish priest of Sancoale, Volunteers and all other coordinating team members. He specially thanked the press and electronic media for covering the event for the benefit of the Public.
The Archbishop finally thanked the Convenor and all for the successful organisation of the event and expressed that the huge participating crowd only testifies to the fact that this holy place of St Joseph Vaz holds great importance for all the catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
