Hundreds participate in the Annual Walking Pilgrimage at Sancoale

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Hundreds participate in the Annual Walking Pilgrimage at Sancoale

The annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage was held at Sancoale today, 6th March, 2022, in the early hours of the day. As we begin the season of Lent this walking pilgrimage was introduced by our Archbishop as an act of Penance for the spiritual good of the participants and also to pray for the good of the world.

At the beginning of the mass Archbishop, while highlighting the sacrificial aspect of the walk, reminded the faithful about the sacrifice Jesus Christ offered for the salvation of the world by humbling himself before us. He also emphasised the exemplary life journey of St. Joseph Vaz and St. Francis Xavier who transformed the lives of so many people. He specially offered the Walking pilgrimage for peace in Ukraine and Russia, besides praying for the blessings on all the faithful.

Hundreds of people began their journey to the venue from as early as 1.30am. The number of participants were however restricted to follow the covid SOP\’s.  People moved in from two Centres in the South and two in North. The Archbishop himself walked with the people from Goa-Velha to Sancoale.

In his Homily Archbishop explained the temptations of Jesus. Satan tried to tempt him with the offering of Self glory, name, status, riches etc if he worshiped Satan or if he tested God. But Jesus remained faithful to his Father in Heaven and refused the so-called glory and riches that Satan Offered. The Archbishop while applying this to our life said that so many times we are put into such temptations. we are called to compromise on our values, on our faith, on our God to gain riches, status and glory of the world. But these things do not give us happiness, these things do not last, it brings more emptiness than Joy. Christ offers us eternal Joy.

He highlighted that we need to take the hard road, the road of truth, righteousness, the road of charity, Prayer and thought for others. He called the faithful to live in communion with each other, to live humbly at the service of God and each other.

At the end of the Mass Fr. Ligorinho D\’Costa, the Convenor of the event thanked God for His Blessings 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, the Police, Traffic Police, Fire Services department, Collectors, Additional Collectors, engineers, Pwd 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 for their role in the organisation of the event. He thanked the Choir conducted by Fr. Mario Costa, 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 for the successful organisation of the event.

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