Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Pamplona (Fides Service) - This year the annual Xavier pilgrimages in Javier, Pamplona, will be marked by special joy for the 5th centenary of the birth of Saint Francis Xavier patron saint of missions and patron of the Navarra region of Spain. The two days of pilgrimage, Sunday March 5 and Saturday March 11 will have the slogan “Go out into the whole world”. The Sunday 5 March the pilgrimage will close with a 10.30 mass in the Castle Square presided by Archbishop Fernando Sebastian of Pamplona. The pilgrimage on March 11 will close with a Mass at 7pm. To mark the special centenary year there sill be a Javierada for priests on March 9 and one for senior citizens on march 19.
For the occasion the relics of St Francis Xavier usually kept in Rome at the Church of Gesu will be sent to Pamplona. On March 3 the relics will be welcomed by Jesuit provincial superior Fr. Elías Royón who will accompany them to the Cathedral where they will be met by the Archbishop. The relics will then be taken to Javier and remain there until 20 April. They will be exposed for the veneration of the faithful in the basilica in the Castle the saintly missionary’s actual birthplace. On April 20 the relics will be moved to St Francis Borja parish church in Madrid until 24 April when they will be returned to Rome.
On 7 April the birthday of St Francis there will be a solemn Mass at the Francisco de Jasso auditorium presided by the Jesuit prepositor general Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, in the presence of all Jesuit Provincial superiors, local and international religious and civil authorities. Other centenary initiatives include a Congress on the figure of St Francis Xavier 27 March 2 April in Navarra, attended by experts from Universities in Spain, Portugal and Japan; and 21 - 23 April a Youth Mission Meeting. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 1/3/2006 - righe 26, parole 363)
