WINIFRED NORRIS
PORVORIM
It may be home to several government and commercial institutions, but the rapidly developing Porvorim plateau has also gained recognition for several Catholic institutions in the area.
Till 1950, Porvorim plateau did not have a Catholic structure or institution and the first Mass was celebrated at the newly built chapel only in 1951. The chapel was the
lone Catholic structure in Porvorim from the 1950’s to the 70’s.
But in the last five decades, Porvorim has become a hub of various Catholic institutions, with several congregations involved in activities, which include a parish, chapel, hospital, clergy home, educational and counselling centres.
Porvorim has various Catholic congregations comprising Diocese Priests, Jesuits, Redemptorist Priests, JMJ Nuns, Pilar Fathers and Vincentian Priests.
The Porvorim Parish comprises the Holy Family Parish Church and Holy Cross chapel, administered by diocese priests. In addition, the Clergy Home for retired priests in North Goa is also in Porvorim.
The Jesuits built the Xavier Centre of Historical Research (XCHR) in the 1970’s.
“After liberation, the Jesuits felt there was confusion regarding Goa’s history and its identity. We thought this issue should be documented and studied,” recalled XCHR Director Fr Anthony da Silva.
Besides Goan history, XCHR also focuses on Jesuit history because the religious society has been associated with Goa since St Francis Xavier arrived in 1542.
“We chose Porvorim at that time because we could see the proximity to Panaji, land was readily available and there were lack of institutions in this side of Mandovi river.”
“So, we thought an institution of intellectual education would fit in very well,” he added.
In addition, the Jesuits also run the Thomas Stephens Konkani Kendra, an institution to promote Goan culture, Konkani language and research.
The Redemptorist Priests first began their mission in June 1968, when Fr Antonio Rodrigues inherited land from his father.
Fr Rodrigues recalls praying to Our Lady of Succour, the patron Saint of entire Porvorim at the time.
“I was sent back to Goa in 1986 and my brother-in-law said my father had left me some land in his will. So, I asked permission to build a house for the Redemptorist Priests,” recalled Fr Rodrigues.
The Redemptorist Priests also run the Dasya Counselling Centre, set up for religious women in 1992.
The Jesus, Mary and Joseph (JMJ) Hospital is another Catholic institution run by the JMJ nuns in Porvorim since August 15, 1993.
“We wanted to start a convent in Goa and asked the archbishop for permission. We were asked if we could take care of priests in the clergy home as they were retired and needed healthcare,” said JMJ Hospital Manager Sr Vailankanni.
“It was important for us to set up a convent here in Goa and land was easily available in Porvorim at the time. So, we set up a hospital not only for priests but also for the public.”
The Pilar fathers shifted their administrative headquarters from Pilar to Dipti Sadan in Porvorim on February 4, 2003.
Fr Anthony Castello said the main reason for the Pilar Fathers to shift their administrative headquarters to Porvorim was because of its convenience and proximity to the state capital.
“Communication was also convenient for priests at that time. The Society had been thinking for quite sometime to move its Generalate and Secretariat out of Pilar,” said Fr Castello.
Added Fr Norman Almeida, another Pilar Priest: “Pilar has its ambience of silence, peace, spirituality and study. We wanted matters of governance and administration be taken to another location and so, we moved to Porvorim.”
Besides being the headquarters, Dipti Sadan also provides amenities for meetings and seminars for Pilar Fathers.
The Vincentian Priests, popularly known as Potta Fathers, recently set up a house in Porvorim and conduct counselling and healing sessions.
