Dolcy D’Cruz
St Lawrence, one of many early Christian Church’s most revered martyrs, served as one of many seven deacons of Rome below Pope Sixtus II. He was among the many Christians put to loss of life through the persecution ordered by Roman Emperor Valerian in 258 AD. In Goa, the feast of St Lawrence is noticed yearly on August 10, with centuries-old traditions and non secular celebrations marking the event. As yearly, two outstanding church buildings in Bardez and Tiswadi will come alive with festivities because the devoted collect to honour the martyr and search his intercession.
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St Lawrence Church, Sinquerim
The Feast of St Lawrence will likely be celebrated at St Lawrence Church, Sinquerim with Plenty at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am and 10.30 am, with the solemn Mass at 10.30 am to be adopted by the normal procession and blessing of the ocean. A night Mass will likely be celebrated at 4 pm. Parish priest Fr Milchester Furtado says that this yr’s pastoral theme for the feast is ‘Abide in Me.’ “The celebrations will give attention to searching for the intercession of St Lawrence and following in his footsteps to grow to be higher Catholics and Christians and to dwell extra intently in accordance with the teachings of Jesus,” says Fr Milchester, who will have fun the 6 am Mass.
“Fr Agnel Fernandes, the previous parish priest, will have fun the 7.30 am Mass. The 9 am Mass will likely be celebrated by Fr Gabriel Fernandes, Provincial of the Capuchins. The ten.30 am solemn Mass will likely be celebrated by Fr Leenoy Dias, Secretary on the Secretariat for Confraternities/Fabricas/ Cofres (Seccao das Confrarias) at Archbishops Home. The 4 pm Mass will likely be led by Fr Valerian Ferrao,” informs Fr Milchester.
Dom Miguel de Noronha, the 4th Depend of Linhares and Viceroy of Portuguese India, ordered and financed the unique chapel of St Lawrence at Sinquerim in 1630. It was handed over to the Franciscans in 1636 and elevated to the standing of a parish in 1688. Earlier than that, residents of Sinquerim needed to attend church in Candolim.
Adolfina Thamma, a great-granddaughter of certainly one of Sinquerim’s village households and a traditionalist, is dedicated to preserving the wealthy historical past and heritage of the church and passing it on to future generations. She informs, “The church has a uncommon architectural function recognized in Portuguese as an ‘alpendre’, a balcony above the primary façade. Within the case of St Lawrence Church, its location was additionally important because it was a strategic and vigilant level from the place the Viceroy might look out in the direction of the Arabian Sea, notably because it was located on the mouth of the Mandovi River. One other distinctive function of the church is the presence of angels surrounding the entrance compound, beneath that are niches often known as ossuaries, the place the stays of deceased parishioners had been positioned. No different church in the whole state has angels surrounding the entrance compound on this method. Every area of interest has an angel with joined fingers, symbolising safety and the safeguarding of the soul in a prayerful method.”
The statue of St Lawrence is depicted holding a ship in a single hand. He’s additionally historically invoked by cooks and childless {couples}. “Many individuals include particular intentions related to those professions and circumstances. Cruise-line employees, these employed on ships, fishermen and childless {couples} are amongst those that notably observe the feast,” she says.
At this time, the blessing is performed from the bandstand, however the custom was as soon as carried out from a ship. She explains, “Till across the mid-Twentieth century, in accordance with what our elders have advised us, whoever was the official current, whether or not the Viceroy, Governor or one other dignitary, would accompany the priest in a ship. A rope was stretched throughout from Aguada in the direction of Dona Paula. Prayers had been supplied and, after the ceremony, the official would minimize the rope with a knife or sword. This was adopted by a gun salute, with cannons being fired to announce the opening of the Aguada sandbar.”
The opening of the sandbar historically marked the start of the fishing season. Fishermen would nonetheless not enterprise out till the next day. A Mass could be supplied on August 11, a practice that continues even at this time.
St Lawrence Church, Agassaim
Agassaim was as soon as a major crossing level, with boats carrying individuals and items between Tiswadi and Salcete travelling by the Agassaim–Cortalim route. The church’s elevated location subsequently supplied a commanding view of the encompassing space and the river. Perched on a hillock overlooking the Zuari estuary, St Lawrence the Martyr Church, Agassaim, was initially a small chapel constructed earlier than 1541. The Agassaim Chapel was changed by a brand new church constructed by Jesuits in 1565 and enlarged inside the subsequent eighty years. Vestiges of the primitive Agassaim chapel may be seen on the northern aspect of the current church. The bell of the Agassaim church was acquired from the Chorao seminary in 1871.
The Feast will likely be celebrated at St Lawrence Church which was inbuilt 1565 by the Jesuits on the hillock overlooking the village. Two Plenty will likely be held at this time, 6.30 am and eight.30 am. “The Excessive Mass will likely be celebrated at 8.30 am with Bishop Alwyn Barretto, Bishop Emeritus of Sindhudurg, as the primary celebrant. The theme for this yr’s feast is ‘Bhag Lawrensachem Jivit Gheun, Jezunt Jieum-ia’ (‘Taking the lifetime of St Lawrence as our instance, allow us to dwell in Jesus’),” informs Fr Ronaldo Fernandes, assistant parish priest of St Lawrence the Martyr Church, Agassaim.
Within the night, the celebrations within the village will shift to Dugrem, Agassaim the place the Younger Stars of Dugrem will likely be celebrating their 53rd All Goa Coconut Breaking Contest and Cultural Competition, which is thought for the well-known All Goa Coconut Breaking contest. The night will proceed with a Konkani tiatr, ‘Hello Avoi Kosli?’ directed by Sammy Tavares at 7.30 pm within the church corridor.
