As we today celebrate the Feast of Goa’s Patron Saint St Francis Xavier, let us all regardless of Creed, Caste or Community seek our great Saint’s Divine intervention to steer the now sinking Goa through these current troubled and turbulent times.
We need to applaud the Rector of the Bom Jesus Basilica Rev Fr. Patricio Fernandes for having along with his dedicated team so very ably overseen the well organized arrangements and logistics within his precincts all through the Novenas and on the Feast day today. I saw it all and was so blessed to attend the service on the last day of the Novenas yesterday morning. But it was an utter eyesore to see that the Old Goa Panchayat failed so miserably in their mandatory duty to lift those heaps of garbage piled all over while the Panchayat members must have been so busy raking in all the money possible on the dozens of shops they annually run during the Feast as if that trade was their personal fiefdom. All this needs to change. The very long serving local MLA Pandurang Madkaikar after having so high-handedly encroached his bungalow in the Protected area next to the Basilica and is currently ailing on account of his that sexual misadventure missed the Feast today possibly for the first time in very many years. St Francis Xavier is watching it all. But after all that environmental and other damage done to Goa, two other political ruffians Rohan Khaunte and Vijai Sardesai brandishing their VIP status made their presence felt today for the Feast Mass. But it’s only the Patron Saint of Goa that can on account of all their sins relegate them to be former MLAs by the next Feast on 3rd December 2019. Sooner the better for Goem, Goenkar and Goenkarponn. May also Vishwajit Rane who has callously taken no drastic action against the Fish mafia feeding us formalin laced fish and that other corrupt monster Mauvin Godinho along with such other vultures also meet the same fate to the relief of every Goan. It’s time that politicians at places of Worship are treated like common citizens and given no VIP treatment as in the eyes of God we are all equal before a Temple, Mosque or Church. The Politicians should perhaps take a cue from the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican and learn that humility and sincerity always pays and not arrogance of standing on the front row to boast of closeness to God with no sincere belief nor prayer! Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
