Media Release
Pilar, Nov 6: The 99th death anniversary of Venerable Agnelo de Souza will be celebrated in Pilar on November 20. The main theme for this year's commemoration is 'Venerable Agnelo inspires us to be missionaries of love in the modern world'. Rev Simao Purificacao Fernandes, auxiliary bishop of Goa and Daman, will preside over the solemn mass at 9:30 am. The Mass timings on this day are as follows: Morning: 5:30; 6:45, 8:00 and 11:30; afternoon/ evening: 4:00, 5:15 and 6:15 (English).
The novenas will be held from November 11 to 19. Each day is dedicated to praying for a specific intention: November 11 (Wednesday) is dedicated to clergy, religious, and missionaries; November 12 (Thursday) to peacemakers and social activists; November 13 (Friday) to youth and the unemployed; November 14 (Saturday) to children and vocations; November 15 (Sunday) to workers and migrants; November 16 (Monday) to the sick and the elderly; November 17 (Tuesday) to civil authorities; November 18 (Wednesday) to families and couples yearning for a child; November 19 (Thursday) to journalists and media houses; and November 20 (Friday) to devotees of Ven Agnelo.
The timings for the novena masses are as follows: Morning: 5:30 am, 6:45 am, 8:00 am, 9:15 am, and 10:30 am; afternoon & evening: 4:00 pm, 5:15 pm, and 6:15 pm (English). A Night Vigil will be held on the November 14 from 9:30 pm to 5:00 am the following morning. Masses in other languages will be held on the November 15 at the following times and locations: Tamil Mass: 11:30 am at the Seminary Chapel; Malayalam Mass: 11:30 am in the pandal; Hindi Mass: 12:30 pm in the pandal. Special Masses: Mass for the Spiritual brothers and sisters: November 15 at 10:30 am; special Mass for the sick: November 16 at 10:30 am. Every Mass will be followed by a novena prayer and prayers over the sick. Priests will be available for confessions and counselling. The daily 6:45 am, 5:15 pm, and 6:15 pm (English) Masses will be streamed live on the YouTube channel Society of Pilar India and telecast on CCR TV, Prime TV, Prudent TV, Goa365 TV, RDX TV, Goa9 TV, InGoa TV, GoaPlus TV, and GCTV.
All vehicular traffic arriving from Ponda, Margao, Mapusa, and Panjim will enter through the gate near Milroc Colina on the Neura Road and proceed to the parking lot behind the Pilar Cemetery. The exit route for all traffic will be via the main Pilar ITI–Pilar Junction road.
In the event that the cemetery parking lot reaches full capacity, alternate parking will be provided at the Fr Agnel Degree College grounds on the Pilar–Neura Road. Parking for two-wheelers is located in the seminary gardens near the Central Cross, while designated parking for the differently-abled is available near the pandal.
KTCL shuttle services will be available near the Pilar Junction, and additional buses will operate from the parking lots. Buggies will also be available on-site and are reserved primarily for the elderly, sick, and infirm. Please leave home early to ensure you arrive in time for Mass and to assist in maintaining smooth traffic movement.
Venerable Agnelo de Souza was born in the picturesque village of Anjuna on January 21, 1869. His parents, Miguel and Simphorosa, were devout Catholics who ensured that their children grew up rooted in faith and sound morals. A saintly member of the Society of Pilar, Ven Agnelo was an inspiring preacher of God’s Word, conducting parish missions and retreats across most of the churches in Goa. He passed away peacefully at dawn on November 20, 1927.