Hill-crest of Serenity

HILL-CREST OF SERENITY 

No vacations to Goa over the years are ever complete without a visit to the Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, situated at the crest of the hill of my Alma Mater, St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Guirim in Bardez, Goa.

On a pleasant evening of my short vacation in Goa some years ago, fond memories of the days when I once walked up and down the verdant hill as a day-scholar from Guirim, keep gushing to my mind like watching an old movie filled with emotional vignettes of the past as I ride up on a scooter along the spiraling road up to the top of the hill. I notice some changes as time has passed by, like for instance the colourful 14 Stations of the Cross on the side of the road.

Then, as I arrive at the top, there is something very serene, a sense of solace that I have always found here since the time when I was a young boy studying at this fine, vibrant and well-known institution of its kind in Goa. The beautiful white Holy Cross stands tall in all its glory. Missing, though sadly, is the famous giant of a nunerca tree.

 ◦ There still prevails an aura of  something special and sentimental about this place that has remained undiminished over the years. Perhaps it is the silence, a certain stillness in the air, a feeling of comfort and peace at this crest that I embrace, reminiscing in abundant nostalgia on every visit. I am sure that many ex-students, teachers, Fathers and visitors alike have their own similar experiences of this nature to relate where time seems to stand still and a certain calm and tranquility prevails, as one is far away and high above the hustle and bustle of busy towns and crowded cities.

 ◦ There are many memories of my childhood and youth that I can connect with this place. First of all, the beautiful chapel of St. Francis of Assisi facing the vast expanse of fields, the villages of Saligao, Candolim, Calangute, Baga, Nagoa, Arpora, Parra, Verla, Canca, the Arabian Sea on the left and the range of verdant hills extending up to Arjuna on the right in the distance.

 ◦ The plateau in front of the chapel once served as a PT & drill area, Mission Sunday fete and various other festivities, reading at Retreats, or reading/studying under the shade of the famous 'nunerca' tree during the afternoon recess or perhaps at times just losing oneself in one own's thoughts, or simply admiring a beautiful sunset. As for me I could just sit here for hours in all its serenity.

During the early 1960's, it was on this top of the hill that students learned to play the violin, piano and guitar in the music room which was located besides the chapel, while on the red cement benches boys had singing sessions of popular songs of the time like 'Buttercup of Golden Hair' by Dean Martin, 'Besame Mucho' by Connie Francis, ‘Wooden Heart' and 'Surrender' by Elvis Presley during the afternoon recess.

It was also here that parents and guardians came to visit students in the boarding school during the afternoon recess in the parlour next to the music room.

These and other memories I still hold close to my heart. Time eventually passes by so quickly and the visit is short-lived as it is time to say 'Adeus' with a hope of visiting the serene and tranquil place once again in the future.

 ◦ Enjoying the beautiful panorama around me I notice that a lot of changes have taken place around the area over the years including a shrine dedicated to  Monte Friars who have passed away. There have also been a lot of beautiful changes that have been added to the beauty over the years to the hill-top, one of them being the shrine of the ‘St. Francis of Assisi & the Wolf’. I also noticed an addition to the external wall on the right side of Chapel at the old music room and visitors parlour - a large letter’T’ painted in burgundy, which you may know, is the Greek alphabet ‘Tau’ which represents the Greek Cross and a symbol adopted by St. Francis of Assisi and by the Order of the Franciscans Minor.

The sun is just a little above the horizon bidding adieu to yet another beautiful day.  And it's time, for me too, to say goodbye once more before I head for home as the bells toll for the Angelus. Reluctantly, I leave the hillock with hope that I will visit my Alma Mater again on my next visit to our beautiful Goa.