It is a rare chance to club a historic pilgrimage with a tour of Europe for many in Goans this month. Many Goan pilgrims attending the canonization of Mother Teresa by Pope Francis on September 4 at the Vatican have started departing for the event. This is the second canonization that Goans will attend after Pope Francis canonised St Joseph Vaz in Colombo in January 2015.
The Albania-born nun also called the 'Saint of the gutters' will be canonised just a day before her 19th death anniversary.
Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao, who is currently in Germany, will attend the ceremony in the Vatican. Deputy CM Francis D'Souza will represent the state. "Many priests have also joined groups of pilgrims in their individual capacity," said a source at Archbishop's house, Altinho. A group of pilgrims from Candolim departed on Wednesday to attend the event.
A few Goans are also travelling via Kolkata to join the 300-odd pilgrims from the city for a shorter tour. Bishop Alwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg is also taking this route. "Many Goan groups are also likely to visit Europe for a longer tour," a pilgrim said.
Neville Monteiro, the architect associated with an expansion project of a building belonging to Assistencia, Goa, in which Missionaries of Charity run an orphanage, is also one of the pilgrims. "A few of us are leaving for Kolkata on Thursday and will proceed to the Vatican with a group of pilgrims from Kolkata," said Monteiro. Some Goans, like Candolim-resident Fermino Fernandes, who are not travelling to Rome have taken a 'spiritual pilgrimage' to the Missionaries of Chairy headquarters in Kolkata, from where Mother Teresa worked.
The Albania-born nun also called the 'Saint of the gutters' will be canonised just a day before her 19th death anniversary.
Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao, who is currently in Germany, will attend the ceremony in the Vatican. Deputy CM Francis D'Souza will represent the state. "Many priests have also joined groups of pilgrims in their individual capacity," said a source at Archbishop's house, Altinho. A group of pilgrims from Candolim departed on Wednesday to attend the event.
A few Goans are also travelling via Kolkata to join the 300-odd pilgrims from the city for a shorter tour. Bishop Alwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg is also taking this route. "Many Goan groups are also likely to visit Europe for a longer tour," a pilgrim said.
Neville Monteiro, the architect associated with an expansion project of a building belonging to Assistencia, Goa, in which Missionaries of Charity run an orphanage, is also one of the pilgrims. "A few of us are leaving for Kolkata on Thursday and will proceed to the Vatican with a group of pilgrims from Kolkata," said Monteiro. Some Goans, like Candolim-resident Fermino Fernandes, who are not travelling to Rome have taken a 'spiritual pilgrimage' to the Missionaries of Chairy headquarters in Kolkata, from where Mother Teresa worked.