PANAJI
Hundreds of people from different parts of Mormugao taluka and neighbouring villages on Sunday evening took part in a candlelit vigil and prayer service outside the facade of Our Lady of Health Church in Sancoale (old church), to pray for peace and harmony in the village.
The prayer service was led by Sancoale Parish Priest Fr Louis Alvares and those present at the prayer service included priests and nuns from the Mormugao deanery and Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha.
Fr Alvares gratefully acknowledged the solidarity and respect shown by all people gathered at the holy place. Verna PI Sheriff Jacques was also present at the venue along with a police team.
Speaking to The Goan, Fr Alvares said the prayer service for peace and harmony was conducted outside the old Sancoale Church, after some persons tried to conduct a religious service at the site on December 30, 2020.
According to Fr Alvares, some persons trespassed into the church property and tried to conduct a religious service.
“The workers at the site contacted the moderator of Sancoale Parish Pastoral Council who in turn alerted me. Some of us rushed to the site and we also notified the Verna police about the incident.”
“When some of us reached the site, we noticed about 25 persons in the process of performing a religious service. When we objected to the rituals conducted by the group of persons, they retaliated with filthy abusive language and intimidation, claiming they had the right to perform their religious ceremonies. The criminal acts were even live-streamed on Facebook by the accused persons.”
Fr Alvares later lodged a complaint with the Verna police stating that the action of the accused promoted enmity, hatred and tension on grounds of religion.
“The property bearing Survey 266/2 in Sancoale village, which exists a Frontispiece of the old Sancoale Church, is lawfully and peacefully owned, possessed and enjoyed by the ‘Fabrica of Church of Sancoale’, as is clearly stated in Form I and IV.”
“The Frontispiece situated in the property has been declared as a ‘Protected Monument’ by the Directorate of Archives & Archaeology, with ownership status as ‘Private’ belonging to the Church of Sancoale.”
“The Archdiocese of Goa has been celebrating the annual Novena and Feast of St Joseph Vaz, near the Frontispiece. There also exists a Chapel of Our Lady of Health in the said property wherein Catholic religious ceremonies like the Holy Mass, Litanies and Rosaries take place on a regular basis.”
“A ‘Walking Pilgrimage or Bhavartachi Yatra’ is an annual pilgrimage undertaken by thousands of faithful from all over Goa and beyond in the Lenten season of the Catholic calendar, to the Frontispiece of the old Church of Sancoale,” stated Fr Alvares.
In his police complaint, Fr Alvares said the criminal and communal acts committed by all accused are cognisable, non-bailable and punishable under section 153(A) & (B), 295 (A), 440, 426, 447, 506 (ii), 505 (2 & 3), 509 r/w section 34 and/or 120 B of IPC.
He requested the Verna police to take immediate cognisance of the offences and register an FIR, besides taking steps to stop any further damage and communal violence. Copies of the police complaint have been forwarded to different police officials.
