VASCO
Many parishioners of Our Lady of Candelaria in Baina still have fond memories of Mother Teresa when she had visited the place to lay the foundation stone for the chapel. A cross was built on January 16, 1977, while the foundation stone for the chapel was laid by Mother Teresa on October 28, 1986. The chapel was subsequently renovated in 2006 and was dedicated to the saint on Friday. But Mother Teresa's visit to Baina was not only aimed at laying the foundation stone for the chapel. The parishioners had hoped that Mother Teresa's presence at Baina would have a miraculous effect on the place. They believe that a miracle did take place. "There were a lot of wrongdoings going on at Baina at the time and to curb this menace we had decided to invite Mother Teresa on October 28, 1986," recalled Andrew D'Souza, a parishioner from Katem. "Mother Teresa visited Baina on October 28 and laid the foundation stone for the chapel. Soon after Mother's visit to Baina, all these wrongdoings eventually stopped, due to which we have reposed deep faith in her," said D'Souza. Asked why they had decided to dedicate the chapel to Mother Teresa, D'Souza said: "We had a lot of faith in Mother Teresa and we also saw her work with the downtrodden, needy and orphans, which deepened our faith." Speaking to The Goan, Fr Vital Miranda, parish priest at Our Lady of Candelaria Baina, said residents of Katem-Baina are known for their simplicity. "The statue of St Mother Teresa was installed and blessed during the holy mass on Friday."
