Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias releasing the church bulletin along with other priests at the Agonda Church.
CANACONA
Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias said Agonda will always have a pride of place in the Catholic Church since it was the founding place for the Society of the Missionaries of St Francis Xavier, popularly known as the Society of Pilar.
Bishop Dias was delivering his homily during the Mass to mark 25 years of the presence of the Pilar Society at the Agonda Church.
“It is recorded in the history that Agonda was the place where the Society of the Missionaries of St Francis Xavier (SFX) was founded by Fr Bento Martins in 1887, while he was serving as officiating priest. Fr Martins became the first parish priest of St Anne Church, Agonda, in 1889. In this sense, Agonda will always have a pride of place in Catholic Church,” said Bishop Dias, a member and first bishop of the Society of Pilar.
Highlighting the work and sacrifices of Fr Martins, Bishop Dias said Fr Bento travelled from Sattari to Agonda, when walking was the only mode of transport at the time, to usher in the kingdom of God among the poor.
“He opened up a school and also preached the Good News of Jesus to them. The great work by Fr Martins is being continued by the Pilar Society, as they give thanks to God for their fruitful service in Agonda since the last 25 years,” Bishop Dias said.
To mark the occasion, a special parish bulletin Hannah (Grace), which was revived after eight years at the initiative of Parish Priest Fr Patrick Luis, was released by Bishop Dias.
Provincial of the Goa Province Fr Mathew Fernandes also spoke on the occasion. The Parish Youth Group led by Assistant Parish Priest Fr Darrell Fernandes later presented a cultural programme on the occasion.
