On November 22, 2003, over 130 devotees of the Venerable Fr. Agnelo DeSouza assembled at the St. Catherine Laboure Church in Silver Spring, Maryland to participate in the third Annual Mass to pray for the Beatification of Venerable Fr. Agnelo. This also coincided with the conclusion of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the 75th death anniversary of Venerable Fr. Agnelo De Souza.
Besides many Goans, devotees of other country origin such as from Pakistan and Sri Lanka and other Indian communities from Mangalore, Karwar, Kerela, Madras, Sri Lanka etc. participated in the Mass and the reception. These included groups who came from far distances such as from Chicago, New Jersey, Southern Maryland and Virginia.
Fr. Robert Amey, Pastor of St. Catherine Laboure Church was the main celebrant and homilist. Rev. Fr. Francisco Alves, S.J. concelebrated the Mass. The choir of more than 15 individuals led by Glenda Bastian from Calcutta and Nancy Barreto from Mumbai sang Konkani and English hymns beautifully. A reception followed the Mass. There was lots of food, snacks and soft drinks. Antonio Pires treated us to a delicious and authentic serving of Goan Sorpotel. The children and people of all ages enjoyed the festivities.
Other highlights of the occasion was the release of a 44 page Platinum Jubilee Souvenir which included special messages from Fr. Tony Fernandes -Vice Postulator in Pilar, His Grace Lucas Sirkar � Archbishop of Calcutta who on his way to request the Holy Father to beatify Mother Teresa was kind enough to meet with our volunteers in Washington, DC., Cecile Motus of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Fr. Robert Amey Pastor of St. Catherine Laboure Church and Patrick De Sousa of Catholic Goan Network. It also carried an interesting testimony by Agnelo Gustavo Gonsalves of his experiences of Venerable Fr. Agnelo�s intercessions for him through out his life. Other souvenir items were mugs, pens and bookmarks.
The Fr. Agnelo Devotion Center, Inc. in the USA organized the celebrations. This Devotion Center is a tax exempt charitable, religious and educational organization, organized for the sole purpose of propagating the Beatification and Canonization and virtues and life of Ven. Fr. Agnelo through the directions and authority obtained from the Vice Postulator and the Society of St. Francis Xavier, in Pilar � Goa, India.
We would like to contact devotees of Ven. Fr. Agnelo around the world with the intent to spread the message and pray for his intercessions. For more information kindly contact us at:
Fr. Agnelo Devotion Center, Inc. 4957 Sweetbirch Drive Rockville, MD 20853
www.fragnelo.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone (301) 924-2100 FAX (301) 924-1646
Armande Condillac
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