Venerable Agnelo's 99th death anniversary

The 99th death anniversary of Venerable Agnelo de Souza will be celebrated in Pilar on November 20, 2026. The main theme for this year's commemoration is “Venerable Agnelo inspires us to be missionaries of love in the modern world.” Most Rev. Simião Purificação 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 11th to 19th November 2026. Each day is dedicated to praying for a specific intention: November 11th (Wednesday) is dedicated to Clergy, Religious, and Missionaries; 12th (Thursday) to Peacemakers and Social Activists; 13th (Friday) to Youth and the Unemployed; 14th (Saturday) to Children and Vocations; 15th (Sunday) to Workers and Migrants; 16th (Monday) to the Sick and the Elderly; 17th (Tuesday) to Civil Authorities; 18th (Wednesday) to Families and Couples Yearning for a Child; 19th (Thursday) to Journalists and Media Houses; and 20th (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 14th from 9:30 PM to 5:00 AM the following morning. Masses in other languages will be held on the 15th 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: 15th at 10:30 AM; Special Mass for the Sick: 16th 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 21st January 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 20th November 1927.