Society of Pilar Renews Missionary Commitment at Feast of Our Lady of Pilar

PILAR, Goa, October 13, 2026: The Society of the Missionaries of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as the Society of Pilar, celebrated the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Pilar, on October 12, calling for renewed missionary commitment and perseverance inspired by Mary’s faith and obedience to God’s will.

Fr. Steevan D’Souza SFX, Vicar General of the Society, presided over the feast-day Eucharistic celebration held on the theme, “Our Lady of Pilar: Strengthening Missionary Zeal with Perseverance.” In his homily, he urged members to remain steadfast in their missionary service.

The celebrations included a nine-day novena, solemn vespers and a procession, bringing together members of the Society, seminarians, students, the Pilar Sisters, collaborators and well-wishers.

On the eve of the feast, a procession moved from Fr. Agnel Minor Seminary in Batim to the Mission Seminary chapel, followed by solemn vespers presided over by Fr. Lucio Dias, Episcopal Vicar for Confrarias and Administrative Bodies of Churches and Chapels of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. Heads and staff of the Society’s institutions, along with people from other faith communities, joined the procession in honour of Our Lady of Pilar.

The celebrations also featured the release of the Konkani Bible Diary 2027, which contains reflections on the daily liturgical readings. Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, Superior General of the Society, released the publication.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Fernandes blessed a new sitting pavilion outside the monastery. Fr. Jose Baptista, Rector of the Pilar Monastery, inaugurated the facility.

Fr. Anthony Joseph Fernandes, Central Delegate Superior of the Pilar Complex, thanked members and collaborators for their support and active participation in the novena and feast celebrations. The pre-novitiate formation community also organised the Our Lady of Pilar Volleyball Tournament as part of the festivities.

According to Christian tradition, devotion to Our Lady of Pilar is associated with the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St James the Apostle in Zaragoza, Spain. Franciscan Capuchins introduced the devotion to Goa in the early seventeenth century. After transferring its headquarters from Agonda to Pilar, the Society adopted Our Lady of Pilar as its patroness.

The annual celebration provides an occasion for the Society to reaffirm its missionary vocation and commitment to service through its communities and institutions in India and abroad.

By Fr. Adrian Fernandes SFX