NIGHT VIGIL AT BATIM
A well attended Night Vigil
was held at Batim on the 1st of October 2004 to mark the beginning
of the ‘Year of the Eucharist’ which pleasantly coincided with the 10th
anniversary of the First Saturday Service on Ganxim Hill at Batim.
The vigil began with an
introduction by Francis S. Barreto which ended with the following words:
“………..The
importance of the Message of Fatima is underscored by the fact that Pope John
Paul II practices it and promotes it himself. On the occasion of the Jubilee
Year 2000 the Holy Father ordered the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to be
brought from Fatima to Rome and in the presence of hundreds of Bishops of the
world, dedicated the New Millennium to Our Lady – to focus our attention on the
Message of Fatima. He then dedicated the year 2002-2003 the Year of the Rosary.
And
now it is a happy coincidence that the year beginning from today 1st
October 2004 is proclaimed the Year of the Eucharistic.
My
brothers and sisters, Eucharistic adoration and reparation is at the core of
the Message of Fatima.
At
the very beginning of the apparitions at Fatima, the ArchAngel St. Michael, The
Angel of Portugal appeared to the children of Fatima with the sacred host and
chalice. And holding the sacred host and chalice suspended in air, he fell
prostrate before the Body and Blood of Christ – and taught the Prayer of
reparation to the children. This prayer is being distributed here today. This
prayer according to Sr. Lucia is meant for our times when there is so much
irreverence, so many sacrileges and even denial of Jesus in His Body, Blood,
Soul and Divinity.
Therefore
the Holy Father has brought out a special encyclical on the Eucharist – and
dedicated this year – a year of Reparation and Adoration to the Blessed
Sacrament. While announcing this, Holy Father said “The Eucharist is the center
of the Church’s life. In it. Christ offers himself to the Father for our sake,
making us sharers in his own sacrifice, and gives himself to us as the bread of
life for our journey on the highways of the world. From this moment I entrust
to the Virgin Mary, “woman of the Eucharist” this new initiative. May the one
who in the Year of the Rosary helped us to contemplate Christ with her eyes and
her heart, enable every community in the Year of the Eucharist to grow in faith
and love for the mystery of the Body and Blood of the Lord.”
A candle-lit procession with
the Eucharistic Lord followed by the Statue of the Pilgrim Virgin then took
place in the church’s compound to the tune of ‘Sacramentant Ravlelea Mogachea
Jezu’. Blessed Sacrament was then exposed with the traditional singing and
prayers. Rev. Fr. Carmo Martins the
Spiritual Advisor of the World Apostolate of Fatima gave a talk on the
Message of Fatima in konkani. The same was very well appreciated by the
gathering.
Luminous Mysteries then
followed in konkani with meditations taken from the Word of God by Vinny
Almeida from Goa Velha. Next Rev. Fr.
Romualdo Robin Rodrigues spoke on various ways of meaningfully celebrating
the Year of the Eucharist. Petitions, Prayer of thanksgiving and silent prayers
followed until benediction at 12 midnight.
During the coffee break which
followed cake and biscuit were served and the second part of the vigil began at
12.30am with a talk by Rev. Fr. Romualdo Robin Rodrigues on the subject
“Blessed Joseph Vaz and his love for Mary”. With his lively style Fr. Robin not
only enlightened all present but also revealed his own deep love for Blessed
Joseph Vaz and Our Blessed Mother.
Sandra D’souza from Mapusa then
led everyone into the Sorrowful Mysteries. Testimonies strictly related to the
First Saturday Devotion at Batim then followed. Quite a few devotees came
forward to testify how the service has helped them. Arnold Afonso from Margao
led the gathering into the Glorious Mysteries in konkani. This was followed by
a short presentation on the elements of the First Saturday Devotion, by Dr.
Celcio Dias. Constancio D’costa from Guirim led the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Stations of the Cross based
on the theme of forgiveness were led by Francis S. Barreto. Holy Mass was
celebrated by Parish Priest Rev. Fr.
Justus D’souza. The choir was ably led by Mrs. Daphne Sequeira of Ribandar
and assisted by Martha Miranda, Anthony Viegas and Constancio D’costa. The
Night Vigil ended at 5am....Reported by Francis S.
Barreto.