Archbishop of Bangalore Rev Dr Bernard Moras has expressed desire for declaration of the Nandgad Hill near Khanapur as the national place of holy pilgrimage as thousands of pilgrims coming from three states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa flocked to Nandgad to worship and offer their petitions to the Miraculous Cross atop the Nandgad hill on Friday.
Archbishop Moras who was in Nandgad today was offering special mass at the foothill of the Miraculous Cross has also stated that efforts would be initiated in the direction to persuade government in declaring the place as the religious center for national tourism.
Bishop of Belgaum Rev Dr Peter Machado along with a large number of priests concelebrated the mass that was held as the part of the Diocesan Day which is observed here a week before Good Friday.
In his homily on the occasion Archbishop Moras emphasized on the importance of families calling a family as a mini church or a mini temple. “Its painful to see a large number of families breaking apart due to petty differences. However, love of Cross, love for bible and proclaiming Christ through our live witnesses while we live in the society would save families from breaking apart,” bishop Moras said seeking special blessings in the lives of millions who seek solace of the Miraculous Cross. He also urged pilgrims to express the love for the cross by their sacrifice, love for the poor, downtrodden and illiterate.
Bishop Peter Machado in his message to the pilgrims said that the Miraculous Cross shrine at Nandgad is a memorial of the cross of Christ. “ It is a reminder of our own struggles, sufferings and deprivations which we bear and many a times conquer with the grace of Christ, who died but rose again,”, Bishop Peter said thanking pilgrims of different religions who had come along with the Christians to seek the blessing of the Miraculous Cross.
Parish priest Rev Fr Michael Fernandes, vicar general of Karwar Msgr Simon Tellis, chancellor Fr Philip Kutty along with priests and nuns from various places in three states were present. Pilgrims from Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Pune, Mumbai in Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and different parts of Karnataka had arrived in large numbers to Nandgad to pay their respect and petitions to the Miraculous Cross. The choir from Holy Family church Londa presented melodious hymns during the prayer services.