India News

By Bro. John Malvino Alfonso OCD

Goa, Oct 9 : His Eminence  Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman elevated  Goa’s, Our Lady of Rosary Chapel, to church  on 8th October  2022.  The chapel  of Our Lady of Rosary belonged to the Parish of Navelim.  During the celebration the  decree of  His Eminence erecting the   Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Rosary  into a parish of Our Lady of Rosary, Davorlim was read by  Fr. Romeo Monteiro, Chancellor of the Archdiocese.   The Parish of Davorlim is the 174th Parish of the  Archdiocese of  Goa and Daman and 11th Parish dedicated to Our Lady of  Rosary in the Archdiocese.

“Now  it’s  our  responsibility to   become the true followers of Jesus,  live the life of faith in our families,  strengthen our communion in our communities and build our parish as communion of Communities”, said Cardinal Ferrão.

His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão was delivering a homily at  the  Eucharistic celebration held at Davorlim. Cardinal Ferrão presided over the Eucharistic celebration.   Fr. Romeo Monteiro,  Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, Fr Lucio Dias, Episcopal Vicar for the South Zone, Fr. Domingos Noronha, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Rosary Church, Davorlim, Fr. Elvis Godinho, Assistant to the Parish Priest of Navelim Church and other priests concelebrated.

"Church is not the building nor an edifice but it’s a communion of communities of  followers of Jesus. We  enter into this communion on the day of our Baptism, and receiving the gift of faith, we become  members of Christ's mystical body, children of God and  living temples of the Holy Spirit”, said Cardinal Ferrão.

Stressing on  the Church  as a community of Faith, the Cardinal said that  we  need  to  take prayer,  Word of God and Sacraments, specially the Eucharist as means  to grow as a community of Faith.

“We need to show our communion through  love and concern towards others, service and forgiveness”,  the Archbishop said while reflecting on the fact that the Church is a community of communion.

“Church is also a community of witness”, Cardinal added and appealed  to the faithful to proclaim  the  Good News brought by Jesus and be  the salt of the earth and light of the World and thus become  yeast of transforming society.

A portaria,  appointing Fr. Domingos Noronha, as  a Parish Priest  by His  Eminence  Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão was read by  Fr. Lucio Dias, Episcopal Vicar for  the South Zone.  Fr. Noronha made a profession of faith  and took the oath of fidelity in the presence of His Eminence.

Fr. Dylan D’Costa, Assistant to the Parish Priest of Navelim Parish was the liturgical commentator.  Peter D’costa  presented the historical background of the chapel and proposed a vote of thanks.  Cajiton Colaço, led the liturgical singing.

Mr. Francisco Sardinha, South Goa MP, Mr Ulas Tuenkar, MLA, Navelim Constituency, Mr. Avertano Furtado, Ex-MLA of Navelim, Sarpanch and members  of  the Village  Panchayat  of Davorlim were  also present.

Brief History : 

The chapel at Zorivaddo was a mere cross at the beginning where people used to gather to recite the rosary and litany especially during the month of May.  To accommodate more faithful for  spiritual activities , a chapel was built and it  was blessed by  Archbishop of Goa and Daman,  Jose Viera Alvernaz on 20th September 1960 and dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary and affiliated to Our Lady of Rosary Church, Navelim.  The new Chapel building was blessed by Archbishop  Filipe Neri Ferrão on 1st November 2007.  Fr. Protasio Colaco  was appointed as the first chaplain,   the present Chaplain  Fr. Domingos Noronha is appointed as the first Parish Priest  of the newly erected Parish of Our Lady of Rosary, Dovorlim.