Abu Dhabi: St. Francis Xavier Feast Celebrated with great Devotion at St. Joseph’s Cathedral

By Melrick DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

 

Abu Dhabi, 04 Dec 2013: The feast of St. Francis Xavier was celebrated with great devotion at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi on 3rd December 2014 attended by large number of faithful.

 

The grand festival began with a procession with HE Bishop Paul Hinder, Rev. Fr. Valerian Fernandes and guest priest from India Rev. Fr. Clifford Fernandes along with Alter servers and lay ministers.

 

Fr. Valerian Fernandes welcomed the gathering and offered a flower bouquet to HE Bishop Paul Hinder.  Bishop thanked the entire congregation for gathering in large numbers and happy to see a great devotion to St. Francis Xavier and wished all the faithful blessings of St. Francis Xavier on the auspicious day.

 

A meaningful homily was delivered by Rev. Fr. Clifford Fernandes stressing on follow example of St. Francis Xavier and live a devotion life. The holy Eucharist was concelebrated by Fr. Valerian and Fr. Clifford.

 

Rev. Fr. Savarimuthu (Parish Priest) was offered a flower bouquet after the mass by Fr. Valerian Fernandes and Fr. Savarimuthu wished a blessed Feast of St. Francis Xavier for all the faithful gathered.

 

 

Fr. Valerian also offered a flower bouquet to Fr. Clifford and thanked him for giving a short retreat to the konkani faithful prior to the grand feast.  In response Fr. Clifford thanked all the faithful and said that we should not distinguish ourselves as Goan, Mangalorean or from other parts of the country.  We are all one and live in harmony as one Konkani Community serving the Lord and extending the helping each other community.

 

The entire feast celebrations were coordinated by Ms. Fathima Marquis.  Fr. Valerian appreciated her work and on behalf of all konkani community offered her a flower bouquet.

 

The community leader John Fernandes proposed vote of thanks thanking all the coordinators, volunteering, priests, choir master Ms. Cyrila Sabestian, choir members and lay ministers for organizing the feast successfully and specially thanked Fr. Clifford Fernandes for his retreat and holy Eucharist and also thanked Fr. Valerian Fernandes for joining the community in the celebrations and offering all the help needed for the celebration of the feast of St. Francis Xavier.

 

The Choir members rendered beautiful hymns on the occasion and added devotion to the celebrations.

 

The snacks were arranged for all the faithful attended the feast.