Bishop Emeritus Aleixo Dias sfx of Andaman urged the pilgrims to pray for conversion in the proper sense of the term and encouraged government officials to serve the poor.
“Conversion does not mean to leave one religion and adopt another. Conversion means to leave the sinful life and embrace a holy one,” said Bishop Dias during the feast of St Francis Xavier at the Bom Jesus Basilica in Old Goa, in the Western state of India on December 3.
Bishop Dias, the main celebrant for the feast mass, invited the pilgrims to pray for a special gift of conversion, like that of St. Francis Xavier.
“The Catholic church is involved in evangelization. The church exists to evangelize,” Bishop Dias noted.
The bishop pointed out that it is unfortunate that “there are many people who do not understand the word evangelize. They immediately think of conversions. Conversion is the one undergone by Francis Xavier when he turned from his sinful life to holy life. That is conversion.”
“The Catholic church is involved in all kinds of ministries like educational, medical and social work. In all these activities, the church is involved to evangelize.”
Bishop Dias shared that the conversion of Francis Xavier was affected by the Word of God.
“Even St Francis Xavier made mistakes to dream of worldly glory of being famous, rich and popular. But it was his friend Ignatius of Loyola who assisted Francis towards conversion by repeatedly advising Francis with the words from the Bible,” the prelate narrated the story of Francis’ conversion.
It is said that Francis changed after listening to the scripture passage from his companion Ignatius: What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul? (Matthew 16:26).
The bishop, who served for over three decades in the archipelago in the Indian ocean, urged people to listen to the Word of God, spare some time from the cellphone (mobile phone) obsession to read and meditate on the Word of God.
"Real conversion is effected after listen to the Word of God," the bishop said.
Bishop Dias spoke about the feast day theme: Stay with us, Lord to live in communion, participation, Mission like St. Francis Xavier.
“Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus,” the prelate said that “we need to invite Jesus to stay with us. And when Jesus is with us, He will assist us to triumph over temptation.
Bishop Dias urged the government officials “not be greedy for money. God has chosen you through the people to serve the people, not to fill your own pockets.” Bishop Dias invited the authorities to keep their “consciences clean and serve people.”
According to Bishop Dias, the main reason for so much evil in the world is because people are seeking power, riches and are not bothered about poor people. Many times, those chosen to help the poor are only bothered of their own needs.
“Let our authorities, and each of us, think not so much about ourselves, but about the people, we are called to serve. Why can’t we live together as brothers and sisters, as children of one God.”
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa-Daman, Bishop Alwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg and Basilica Rector Father Patricio Fernandes SJ were among the eminent persons for the feast mass.
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