OLD GOA
The Eucharistic celebration at the ruins, in front of the façade of the historic church and monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Nossa Senhora do Carmo) at Chimbel where the holy and zealous religious lived till 1835, was held on Sunday, to commemorate 270th anniversary of its foundation.
Fr Silvestre D’Souza, superior of the Carmelite Monastery, Margao, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. Fr Eusico Pereira, Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Church, Sao Jose de Areal and a native of Chimbel preached the homily. After reflecting the theme of Joy on the Third Sunday of Advent, he said that the gathering at this site was an added joy. He recalled some of his childhood memories, when much of the edifice was still standing. Carmelite priests Fr Ronald D’Souza and Fr Anil Viegas concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration.
It is recalled that, the then Archbishop of Goa, a Franciscan, Dom Lourenço de Santa Maria, approved the statutes of the Carmelite Tertiaries of Chimbel on 12th of December, 1750. This is the first indigenous Carmelite Congregation in Asia. To mark the 270th anniversary of this event, Holy Mass was celebrated at the ruins.
The Conservation Committee, comprising locals from the village, who made this petition and pursued the matter for years, participated in the Eucharistic celebration.
The local MLA, Tony Fernandes was also present and spoke at the end of the celebration, assuring all support from the government to preserve this site.
