Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi - Monte de Guirim, Goa.

CHAPEL OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI - Monte de Guirim.

Photo/Watercolour Rendering & Article by Tony Fernandes 

Ex-student Batch of 1964.

Plateau of peace and tranquility - where stands the Chapel of St.Francis of Assisi, patron saint of St. Anthony’s High School - famously known as Monte de Guirim and an ideal quiet place for prayer, solace, comfort and inspiration and daily Holy Mass and retreats for students and people of the villages around.

In front of this beautiful chapel stands the white Cross with its unique balustrade facing the vast fields down below and in the distance with a panoramic view of the fields and villages towards the west, and as far as one’s eyes can see, stretching from Saligao, Calangute, Baga, Arpora, Nagoa, Parra and Arjuna, complemented by a beautiful backdrop of the Arabian Sea and hills beyond. Once upon a time on the right side of this cross, stood for generations a gigantic nunerca tree. This tree was a legend in its lifetime. It was like a mother that sheltered and protected her children under her huge benevolent arms from the hot sun and rain.  For the physical training exercise, boys lined up for the “drill” under this legendary tree. In the afternoon some students played games while others read books, sang and played guitar. Mission Sunday event was held on this mini plateau. The branch roots of this giant tree were very cleverly nurtured back into the earth with soil around them in tin pipes, thereby providing support for itself. Though botanists tried to save it, the old tree sadly did not survive. But a new one that was immediately planted in its place soon grew to its full size and provided a nostalgic solace and reminiscence to the visiting scholars of the old days.

St. Anthony's High School, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa

For quiet study or meditation, sports activities or games, and just plain conversation or watching a sunset over the Arabian Sea, one could rejoice in silent bliss.

CHAPEL of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa - India

CHAPEL of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa - India

Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa

Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi,

St. Anthony's High School,

Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa

The Friars of Monte - 'Habitual' Humour

Imposing School Building

of the Nineteen Sixties

St. Anthony's High School

Monte de Guirim, Bardez, Goa, India.

'Bridging the Wings'

(Photos by Tony Fernandes)

'Habitual' Humour.

Fathers and Brothers in Uniform
during my time at Monte

They were unique with other exceptional and brilliant qualities besides their regular titles. They were fully devoted their vocation and dedicated to their professions in their chosen fields and proudly donned their distinct dark brown ‘habits’ contrasting with the white cords around their waists, hoods, sandals and ‘crown-cuts’. They were excellent in the arts - talented and innovative, having good organizational skills.

Here below is an appreciation, albeit somewhat on the witty side.

Monte de Guirim. 1953 - 1964

Fr. Pacificus Principal

True to his name, he could calm a storm.

As a builder and strict supervisor, he added and supervised the new school building.

Fr. Diogo, Principal

Excellent English and Konkani Preacher.

Clear delivery. Held audiences spellbound for hours.

Fr. Ambrose, Headmaster

Excellent English Teacher. Suave Administrator.

He taught more with good advice and words than a cane.

Fr. Patrick, Headmaster

History/Good Hockey Player

Known for providing students with the latest eventful news in politics and science at the end of the period. He must have also been the fastest running Friar on the Western Coast of India - in a habit, hockey stick in his left hand, and with the ball from one end of the field to the other.

Fr. Ephrem, Boarding in Charge

Excellent Math Teacher. Euclid of Monte. Absolutely applied the rule of law. Strict disciplinarian. Good marksman with a cane. Superb aim with a piece of chalk even at 50 feet.

Fr. Chrysostom, Physics & Chemistry

Scientist of Monte de Guirim.

Well-known for authoring a special Chemistry Book for School use. NASA would have been envious of his laboratory in its heyday which included a Leyden Jar, microscope, telescope and even a skeleton in the cupboard!

Fr. Fortunato, Geography

Mobile Atlas without a GPS. Ask him a place from Timbuktu to Buenos Aires and he would take you there.

Fr. Columban, English

Excellent Orator. Good diction. Font of knowledge. Witty. Always put things in a humorous way. I think he could have easily put Mark Anthony to shame.

Fr. Ireneus, Religion

Charismatic English and Konkani Preacher

Well known for his short, sweet and to-the-point sermons with chosen words.
Could easily and instantly turn an atheist into a believer!

Br. Vitalis, Art Director

Michaelangelo of Monte

Great Artist / Brilliant Innovator / A Friar with ideas galore!

Br. Peter, Infirmary in Charge

Well known throughout Goa for snake-bite cure.

Snakes might have been terrified of his curing prowess.

Br. Peter, Religion

No Bro. Peter - No Catechism
No Religion - No salvation.
Excellent Religion teacher.

Br. Polycarp, Infirmary in Charge,
Our Doctor in the House - A One-man Team of the Red Cross
From minor Band-Aid to Inoculalion.
From sickness to well-being.

Br. Titus, Engineer

No Bro. Titus, no lights, no water. Unassuming technical wizard. Knew the power generator, the water-pump system and anything mechanical inside out.

Br. Salvador, Music Director

Transportation Guru/ Very Good Driver / Swimmer.

Tough and bold Music Director. Could sense and pinpoint a false note from a distance.
Standing in the wings, unseen by the audience, conducted the entire presentation of the School Drama for two consecutive days. A combination of Yehudi Menuhin and Sterling Moss of Monte de Guirim. Fastest driver on the Western Coast : Monte to Mapusa in 5 minutes.

IN GENERAL:

As Educators: Providing schooling for students from all over Goa, irrespective of caste or religion.
As Administrators and Teachers: Providing a sense of community and belonging to the village of Guirim and also to the surrounding areas.

Tony (Felix) Fernandes - Ex-Student of Monte 1953-1964