The chapel in Quitula-Aldona is dedicated to Our Lady of Piety or Nossa Senhora de Piedade in Portuguese and the faithful celebrate the feast on the third Sunday of November, preceded by the Maddi and the nine-day Novena. But this year, it will be celebrated on second Sunday since the third Sunday is the feast of Christ the King.
ORIGIN
Prior to the construction of the chapel in Quitula, the villagers would attend religious services at St Thomas Church, which was quite at a distance. As the Catholic population increased here, there was a desire to frequent Church services more often, hence the authorities wanted to have a chapel in their own area.
This wish became a reality in 1800, when Tolentino de Rocha donated land in Bapeadem Bhatt for the chapel construction. The expenses for the construction of the chapel would be met by public contribution. The shortfall would be met by Tolentino and his brother Pascoal de Rocha.
In gratitude for the gift of the land, the Rocha family was granted a permanent grave in the transept of the chapel vide Provision dated April 27, 1804. However, this practise of burying the dead in the chapel was later discontinued by the church. The same deed also stated that the chaplain’s salary would be met from the returns of the agricultural products and also be used for minor repairs of the chapel.
The chapel was blessed on March 15, 1800. The villagers bought the statue of Our Lady of Piety, which was solemnly blessed and put in the niche of the main altar.
The main altar is dedicated to the patroness, on the right side is the statue of St Joaquim, which was gifted by Rocha from Talaulim, from the private Mascarenhas chapel.
The residence for the chaplain was built on July 24, 1934. The first resident chaplain was Fr Alberto Francisco de Graca Lobo.
THE FEAST
As per the provision, the Rocha family would celebrate the feast of St Joaquim every year and the Confraria or the Mordomo (president), the feast of the patroness of the chapel.
Initially, the feast was celebrated on October 16 but later due to prevailing conditions, they postponed it to the third Sunday of November. October was the month for harvesting; the grain would be stored in the house, hence there was not enough room to accommodate relations, friends and guests who would come for the feast.
It also happened that one year the crop was late and also poor and there was not enough grain to prepare a sumptuous meal for the visitors, so the villagers had to purchase the grains from elsewhere. Hence, they decided to postpone the feast celebrations to the third Sunday of November.
So, the villagers would have ‘Adoration Day’ on October 16 in remembrance of that day and the expenses for this are borne by the Confraternity of Our Lady of Piety.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
