Village Chapel

My Village Chapel in Goa

at Cumbiem Morod,

GUIRIM

Bardez

GOA

A true Goan takes Goa with him or her

wherever he or she goes around the world.

VIVA GOA!

Chapel of Jesus of Nazareth, Siridao, Goa

Chapel of Jesus of Nazareth,

GOA - India

Photo of the Chapel of Jesus of Nazareth in Siridao, Goa, taken from Aldeia de Goa in Bambolim, a distance of approx. 3.5 km away. The white strip above the trees in the foreground and the rocky cliffs down below the chapel is the sandy Siridao beach.
 In the background across the River Zuari looking south/south-west are Sancoale Hills and new real estate, IT and industrial developments.

Chapel on the Hills of Porvorim, Bardez, Goa. India

TRANQUILITY IN THE TWILIGHT

Nossa Senhora, Mãe de Deus

Parish Church - Saligao, Bardez, Goa.

Built in 1873, it is one of the most beautiful

and magnificent churches in Goa.

It is on the list of my favourites and

the wonderful pieces of architectural grandeur.

It has always brought me a feeling of peace,

be it in the morning or evening twilight, day or night

or on a moonlit night shining in all its splendour.

Living in Guirim, as a teenager and 
as a close neighbour of Saligao,

I often cycled late in the evening to
just delightfully watch
this beautiful masterpiece

from across the main road,
lit up in all its glory
 long past sundown.

CORRIDORS OF TIME

CORRIDOR

leading to the Sacristy

St. Diogo's Church

Guirim/Sangold Parish

Bardez - Goa

THE HAUNTING SOUND OF THE 'MAATRAAS'

Scanned image. Original print made

on Kodak photo paper from film.

Quaresma (Lent) 2005.

PICTURESQUE GOA

The 'Maatraas'

              Lenten services at St. Diogo's Church of Parishes of the twin villages of Guirim and Sangolda in Goa, bring back memories of childhood. Taking part in the solemn procession winding its way around the hill-side and around the perimeter of the cemetery with life-size statues of Christ carrying the Cross, and hearing the touching notes and words of the motets sung in Konkani, sent a chill up my spine. In enacting the crucifixion elders guided the young men who climbed up on the ladders to retrieve the image of Christ from the Cross, while the haunting rattle of the ‘matraas’ echoed through the church,reminding me once again of my childhood.

              In Goa, the 'Maatraas' (Colloquial Konkani) 'Matraça' Portuguese) is used as a signal instead of a traditional bell for conducting solemn Lenten services like the Passion of Christ on Good Friday. Basically, it is made from wood with a cut out handle, and fitted with 2 pair of hinges on both sides. The loud and distinct sound from this invention is made by holding it by the handle, and twisting one's wrist from side to side, the action of which causes the metal hinges to swing from side to side creating a loud sound.

              In the picture below is the traditional 'maatraas', all spruced up, varnished, set and ready to rattle, temporarily leaning against the red cement bench (Konkani: 'sopo') before going into action, in the aisle and corridors of St. Diogo's Church - Guirim/Sangolda Parish, Bardez, Goa.

              "In a re-enacted scene from the crucifixion, elders guided the young men who climbed up on the ladders to bring down the “body of Christ” from the Cross, while the spine-chilling and haunting rattle of the ‘matraas’ echoed through the church, reminding me of my childhood.

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/2009/02/diasporic-re-visitation-part-3.html

Church of Reis Magos, Reis Magos, Goa, India

Church of Reis Magos

(CHURCH OF THE THREE KINGS)

The Magi

Reis Magos, Goa.

Founded: 1555

 Feast: 6th January

It must have been nothing but a miracle!

Just when I was about to click away,

the coconut tree moved out of the way!

 

SENTINEL OF THE DAWN

“However long the night, the dawn will break.”

SENTINEL OF THE DAWN

Misty, calm, serene.

Cross at the Piazza 
 St. Diogo's Church, Guirim/Sangolda, Bardez Goa.

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/2012/03/st-diogos-church-guirimsangoda-bardez.html

ST. DIOGO'S CHURCH, GUIRIM/SANGOLDA, Bardez, Goa, India

ST. DIOGO'S CHURCH

Guirim/Sangolda Parish

This church is dedicated to St. Diogo, Patron of Guirim and Sangolda villages, facing true East. This magnificent church was constructed in 1604 A.D. and is the 13th of the 24 Churches erected in the Bardez taluka.

The distinctive features of this church are many. The main altar is dedicated to the patron St. Diogo and on either side is St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis of Assisi. There are 5 other ornate altars located  in the nave. The altar on the left hand side is dedicated to infant Jesus and on the right is dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary. Incidentally, just nearby to the West is St. Anthony's High School, an alma mater to so many across the world and the Franciscan Friary along with the Chapel of the Patron, St. Francis of Assisi. 

There are three bells to this church, two belong to Sangolda and one to Guirim. Three arched doors lead into the church, while a smaller arched door leads to the sacristy. There is also a side entrance on the Guirim side.

There are many stories about this church and the people of the two villages in myth, legend and folklore. Here is one about the 3 bells. The church is actually shared between 2 villages - Guirim on the North and Sangolda on the South side. Legend has it that soon after the church construction was completed, the elders decided that the villagers who install the bell will claim the rights. One day, when they were working on the church, it was very late, and it was then decided that they sleep it over and start the work on the bells next day. It is believed that the Guirim villagers went home, but the crafty and manipulative Sangolda villagers had ulterior motives! They decided to work through the night and installed 2 of the 3 bells and rang them aloud waking both the villages. Hence Sangolda claims 2 Bells of the church!

Among many other feuds and legends, one particular anecdote comes to mind which is a classic. An old woman from Guirim was on her death-bed, when a young neighbour whispered into her ear: "Ague, Jesu pau munn gue", ('Call out to Jesus") but to everyone's surprise, the dying woman is said to have opened her eyes saying "Jesu amcho nhuim, Jezu tancho, Ruzai Saibinn amchi. Aum Saibinn maim pav munttelim," (Jesus is not ours, Jesus is theirs; Our Lady of the Rosary is ours, so I will say 'Mother Mary come to me') and saying those words she breathed her last.

That explains the left side altar being dedicated to Infant Jesus (Sangolda side - South) while Our Lady of the Rosary is on the right (Guirim side  - North).

In a classic traditional layout of most churches, this church is no different. Typically, attached on the left is the sacristy, the vestry, a garden, surrounded by offices of the Parish, the Vicar's living quarters, kitchen and a well. Located on the right is the side entrance to the church like many other churches in Goa. Also located on the side is the cemetery with the timeless phrase on the arched transom of the doorway that reads in Konkani 'Aiz Maka, Faleam Tuka' (lit.trans: Today for me, tomorrow for You).

Facing the church is the Cross that stands in monumental white-washed glory, surrounded by a compound wall around with access to the church from four sides: from the back, from the Guirim side, from Sangolda side and from the front with steps that lead to the road through the vast fields to the east with a magnificent view of the hills of Sucorro and Porvorim.

ADIEU

SENTINEL OF THE DAWN

Misty, calm, serene.

Cross at the Piazza

 St. Diogo's Church, Guirim/Sangolda, Bardez Goa.

http://tonferns.blogspot.ca/2012/03/st-diogos-church-guirimsangoda-bardez.html

             None of Felicio’s visits to Goa would be complete without going to St. Diogo's Church and then visiting his Alma Mater, situated atop the hill and known as “Monte de Guirim”.

             This time, a guided tour of the new building followed a long conversation with the Principal and the Headmaster of the school.

             The new purpose-built wing, which features a novel sky-light, broad corridors and stair-well, is actually built on the very same spot where a humble but massive shed first stood in the early sixties.

             Felicio seemed to drift far away in his thoughts taking him back in time, remembering his class in that shed, when the Headmaster who was once a pupil in that same school startled Felicio echoing his own sentiments when he said: “Remember the old days?” “Oh, yes,” Felicio replied, “I still remember those were the days when during a heavy downpour in the monsoon the students would have had to shift to a safer place to avoid the drops of rain ruining their study books”. This was during the time when the new school building was in the process of being erected, and a a huge temporary thatched roof shed was built that had nearly 3 class with 3 divisions each, to accommodate the sudden increase in the number of students in the late 1950's - early 1960's.

Old Country Church - Goa, India

Church of St. Diogo, Guirim/Sangolda - Bardez, Goa. India

OLD COUNTRY CHURCH

PEN & INK LINE DRAWING

Size: 12" x 9"

by Tony Fernandes

           The lyrics of my favourite song by Sean Wilson, somehow bring poignant memories of my childhood in Goa where I grew up and went to school at St. Anthony's High as a day-scholar. There seems to be such a stark similarity in the lyrics of the song to the days of my teenage years that I spent there. On Sunday mornings I walked to Church along with my folks  to attend Mass, and later in the afternoon for Catechism classes.  I served Mass in Latin as a young boy.

Thereafter, I completed my college education in Bombay, and later I worked far away from home. Every year I went on a holiday to see my Mum and Dad, and attended Mass in the same old  village church again re-living the times of my childhood, albeit just briefly, the difference being my childhood friends had grown up into men too. We met outside the church after the Mass, spoke about old times, bringing tears to my eyes that I vainly tried to hide.

          In my drawing of the old country church, on the far right is the cemetery. There lie the graves of my Mum and Dad.

Old Country Church

There's a place near to me, where I'm longing to be
With my friends at the old country church
There with mother we went, and our Sundays were spent
With our friends at the old country church.

As a small country boy, how my heart beat with joy
When I knelt in the old country church
And the Saviour above, by His wonderful love
Saved my soul at the old country church.

How I wish that today all the people would pray
As we prayed in the old country church
If they'd only confess, Jesus surely would bless
As he did in the old country church.

Of't my thoughts make me weep, for so many now sleep
In their graves near the old country church
And sometime I may rest, with the friends I love best
In a grave near the old country church.

Precious years of memories,
Oh what joy they bring to me they bring to me
How I long once more to be,
With my friends at the old country church...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ8YInU-Ihc