PANJIM: Agitated Goans in Paris, deeply distressed with the happenings in the motherland, given their deep devotion to St Francis Xavier, condemned the atrocious statement of Subhash Velingkar against Goencho Saib St Francis Xavier. The protest was held outside St Francis Xavier Church, in Paris opposite the St Francis Xavier Metro Railway station.
They confessed their deep devotion to the saint who is highly venerated in Goa, and said this devotion continues in Paris since the nail of St Francis Xavier is kept in this St Francis Xavier Church in Paris. They praised Goans in Goa for organizing the protests, especially in Salcete, Bardez and all over Goa, in the name of Goans in Paris.
After singing the popular hymn, San Francis Xaviera outside the St Francis Xavier Church in Paris, one gentleman said, “ We are glad to inform you that a nail of St Francis Xavier is kept here as a relic and it is displayed for veneration only on December 3, every year. All these Goans in Paris gathered here with just one message and we thank all the activists in Goa for awakening the government, but the government has not listened since though the FIR has been filed Velingkar has not been arrested. We are looking forward to his arrest.”
In Guirdolim, parishioners had a candlelit procession and recited the Holy Rosary in the St Francis Xavier Chapel compound. They prayed for forgiveness for Subhash Velingkar despite the hurtful remarks made by him against St Francis Xavier.