Our Patron Saint - St. Francis Xavier: An Educationist par Excellence
St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa is named after St. Francis Xavier, a world renowned Jesuit missionary. Born in Spain (1506), Francisco de Jaxu Xavier was an outstanding student of the Sorbonne University, Paris. He was awarded Master’s Degree (Arts) with distinction in 1530.
Against this brilliant academic background, Ignatius of Loyola a fellow student placed before him the spiritually haunting biblical maxim: “What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul.”
In 1542, Francis Xavier set foot on Goan soil. In the following year, he was given charge of the College of Holy Faith (Santa Fe) at Velha Goa. Under the Jesuits, it gained fame as the College of St. Paul.
Francis Xavier was one of the illustrious professors of this College which eventually earned the reputation of a University. Scholars from as far as Japan came to pursue their studies. He established many other educational institutions, modeled on the most advanced universities of Europe.
St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa, has chosen as its goals Virtue (virtute) and Knowledge (scientia) to truly reflect the inspiration it draws from the very maxim that turned around the life of its Patron, St. Francis Xavier.