PANAJI
As part of efforts to celebrate Goa’s rich musical tapestry and to make the younger generation aware of this great musical legacy, a one-day National Conference on ‘The Contribution of the Goan Christian Musicians to the Musical Heritage of Goa’ was organised at the Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) in Porvorim.
This conference, organised by TSKK in collaboration with the Department of Gazetteer and Historical Records to commemorate the 25th Anniversary (1999-2024) of TSKK’s own campus at Porvorim was inaugurated by Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão.
Fr Pedro Rodrigues, SJ, Provincial Superior of the Goa Jesuit Province was the guest of honour, while Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, Secretary to the Archbishop, delivered a keynote address.
In his speech, Cardinal Ferrão recalled the contribution of the Jesuits in the introduction and cultivation of the western music in Goa, through the historic college of St Paul’s, in the then city of Goa, now Old Goa. He also recalled the TSKK’s role in the promotion of Konkani and stated, “TSKK continues to make a remarkable contribution to promote the mother tongue and the cultural heritage associated with the language.”
