ASIA/INDIA - FEAST OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER, PATRON OF MISSIONS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECALL AND GIVE THANKS FOR VALID WORK OF WESTERN MISSIONARIES IN INDIA, BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE SPOKESMAN TOLD FIDES

Wednesday, 3 December 2003

New Delhi (Fides Service) – While in India there is growing anti-Christian and anti-missionary propaganda, “the feast day of St Francis Xavier is an opportunity to recall and give thanks for all that western missionaries have done for this country” Rev. Joseph Karakombil, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, told Fides on December 3rd the Feast of this Spanish Jesuit missionary Saint.
“A dominant vision – Father Karakombil told Fides - associates Saint Francis and all western missionaries with colonialism and its negative aspects. But looking again at the past and present we see just how much good the work of missionaries has brought to India. The feast of St Francis is an opportunity to remember the contribution of missionaries through the centuries in education, healthcare and social assistance as well as culture, translation of books and compiling of first dictionaries”.
“In India people who use schools, hospitals, social centres run by local Churches or missionaries have a positive understanding of the presence of Christians and Catholics in particular. But there is also strong anti-Christian propaganda in the press, TV politics and social organisations. Some accuse missionaries of using social services to obtain conversions. Catholics are mere 2% of the population and they cannot fight this widespread cultural activity to discredit Christians. We do not have the national newspapers or TV channels that Hindu fundamentalists have at their disposal. We are at a disadvantage. Nevertheless, we are concerned but not discouraged: this is a challenge we must face and with God’s grace of we will bear witness ”.
The feast day is celebrated with prayers, formation seminars, processions all over India. In Goa, where St Francis Xavier landed in 1542, there is a continuous flow of pilgrims to the site and Goa archdiocese always has a calendar of events for the annual St Francis’ Day. Most local Churches hold special masses in honour of the Apostle of the East, as well as cultural events, concerts and activities to reach out to the poor “to render his missionary spirit present today and rediscover his charisma ”, Father Karakombil told Fides
On 7 September 1541, the day of his 35th birthday, Francis embarked on the Portuguese ship Santiago directed for India. On 6 May 1542 he reached Goa, capital of the Portuguese Empire in the Far East. Francis learned the language, translated prayers, visited communities announcing the Gospel, leading many to embrace the faith. He died at the age of 46 without realising his dream to reach China. Francis Xavier, (1506-1552), canonised in 1602, is considered one of the greatest Christian missionaries. (PA)(Agenzia Fides 3/12/2003 Lines: 51 Words: 538)


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