[From L to R] Fr Jerry Fernandes, Fr Stephen Dias, Bishop Paul Hendricks (Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark Archdiocese), Fr Feroz Fernandes and Fr Patrick D’Souza.
Since the time the Pilar Society began its mission in the UK in the late 1980s, a number of priests from the Pilar Society began serving the Goan community as part of the Asian Chaplaincy, which was later bifurcated into the Goan Chaplaincy, as well as in different parishes.
Fr Francis Carvalho, currently Professor of Canon Law at the Pilar Mission Seminary at Pilar and the first Pilar Father who was instrumental in the establishment of the Pilar Mission in UK, told The Goan that he developed a close connect with the Goan community.
“Trained as a pioneering missionary priest, I did not find it difficult to be in UK – not because of my personal merit but because of the love and obeisance people show towards the Catholic priest, especially from Goans, Irish and Filipino Catholics. Over and above this, the love and devotion of Goans to Venerable Fr Agnelo was like the cherry on the icing,” recalled Fr Carvalho.
At the end of his three-year term in 1991, Fr Carvalho handed over his task at the Asian Chaplaincy to Fr Antonio Andre Fernandes sfx, who was, accordingly, posted at the Wimbledon parish.
“At this juncture, I would like to place on record my deep appreciation and gratitude to (i) Nina Pinto (widow of Diogo Pinto of Sangolda) who as the Secretary of the Association of Friends of Fr Agnelo saw to it that this Association was not only functional but also gainfully productive; (ii) Deacon Braz Menezes (from Sangolda), who as a married-deacon in his parish-Church, and his cousin Luis Mascarenhas (from Sangolda) worked tirelessly for the Cause of Beatification of Venerable Fr Agnelo; (iii) Felix D’Souza (from Anjuna) who as the first President of the Association of Friends of Fr Agnelo (AFFA) laid the foundation to this Association; (iv) Felix Pereira (from Margao) and Freddy Monteiro (from Bastora) who as the Treasures of the AFFA have been ever-available for the Association; and (v) Joaquim Pires (from Velsao), who individually collected funds for the Seminary Burses for Pilar seminarians,” acknowledged Fr Carvalho.
After his departure from UK, a number of Pilar Priests carried forward the original Mission of Pilar Fathers in the UK.
“In 1993, the Society of Pilar took over the Asian Chaplaincy, with Fr Antonio Andre Fernandes as its Chaplain. After some years, it was out of this Asian Chaplaincy that the present Goan Chaplaincy branched out in line with the general policy of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales that every ethnic group in UK could have its own ethnic chaplain,” said Fr Carvalho.
“In line of having a base of its own in UK, the Society of Pilar took over the charge of the following Parishes in UK: Deptford in 1999; Mitcham in 2005; Royal Wootton Bassett in 2016; and Swindon in 2020. The last two parishes were taken over in view of catering to the growing pastoral needs of the Goans recently migrated to the UK – who have been accustomed to celebrate the divine worship/liturgy in their mother-tongue Konkani.”
“Just like in Goa, there is always the scope for re-evangelisation of Goan Catholics in the UK too – in line with the universal call for the constant reform of Christian faith and morals. This task/mission will require more Goan or Konkani-speaking priests to minister to the Goan Catholics in the UK,” added Fr Carvalho.
According to the Directory of the Society of Pilar, the Pilar Fathers took over Asian Chaplaincy London in 1993.
During their 38 years in the UK, the Pilar Fathers took up the parishes of Deptford (1999-2004), Mitcham (since 2005), Royal Wootten Bassett (since 2016), and Swindon (since 2020).
At present, the priests of the Pilar Society serving in the UK are Fr Stephen Dias and Fr Jerry Fernandes at the Sts Peter and Paul Parish (Mitcham). Fr Patrick D’Souza serves the Goan Chaplaincy along with Fr Feroz Fernandes in the archdiocese of Southwark, dioceses of Westminster and Brentwood.
Fr Lucas Rodrigues, Fr Francis Colaco and Fr Mark Furtado serve at the St Peter’s Catholic Church (Swindon) and Sacred Heart (Royal Wootton Bassett), respectively. In addition, Fr Lucas Rodrigues serves the Goan Chaplaincy in Swindon.
