The chapel at Baradi village in Velim is dedicated to the Holy Cross. In front of it is a Miraculous Cross, which is venerated by the people of all faiths. The feast of the Cross is celebrated on May 3 every year.
ORIGIN
There are no written records with regards to the origin of either the Miraculous Cross or of the first chapel here, but a legend states that it was constructed by the Paulist fathers (the Jesuits were called so then, since they had a College dedicated to St Paul in Old Goa) in the late 16th century.
According to this legend, the Ganvkars of Assolna and Cuncolim revolted against the Portuguese government in 1583. The Portuguese then confiscated their lands and properties and handed them to Don Pedro de Crasto, who in turn, gave them to the Paulist fathers. The Jesuits converted the villages of Velim and Betul to Christianity, and as a symbol of their victory, erected a Cross here. Much later, probably when the religious orders were suppressed in Goa, this Cross was abandoned.
The legend further states that at the beginning of the 20th century, the parish priest of Velim church, Fr Simphriano Caetano Dias, dreamt of a Cross whose pedestal was plucked with holes and steps leading to it. He made enquiries about it from the locals. A Kunbi from Baradi told him of an abandoned cross on a hill, which must have been covered by a thick cover of trees. The priest walked up the hill, cleared the trees cover and discovered the Cross. He got the area cleaned up, restored the Cross to its original place and also constructed a small chapel in its vicinity.
The present majestic chapel was constructed in 1983. There are a number of steps leading to it. Behind the Chapel is a large hall. A residence for the chaplain is near another small chapel down in the village.
ALTAR
The chapel has only one altar and behind on the wall is a huge Cross with the image of the Crucified Jesus. The altar as per the inscription on the marble stone on the wall of the chapel was given by Jeronimo Fernandes, from Caroi-Velim on April 23, 1984, in remembrance of their departed father, Estrelito Fernandes.
CROSS
The Cross is a huge one, founded on a white base and it has a staircase around it. It has no canopy over it, though attempts had been to construct one, but failed because of its location.
The Cross is a miraculous one and right through the year devotees come, use the staircase around it to reach the top to venerate it, they offer flowers, circle around it thrice, spend a few moments in prayer and make their petitions.
Earlier, they would also light candles here, but now adjacent to the cross is a separate structure constructed to light them. A number of miracles have taken place in the lives of the devotees, who have come here and sought its intercession.
There was also a custom prevailing in the days of old, when the Catholics from the neighbouring villages, who in prayer, singing hymns and accompanied by a brass band, would walk on foot up the hill to the Cross during the season of Lent as part of their Lenten devotion.
There is another Cross erected on a pedestal with a small canopy on it, a few metres away from this Cross. A footpath leads to it. The faithful also go to pray there.
FEAST
The faithful celebrate the feast every year on May 3. Prior to it is the Maddi and the nine-day thematic Novena, which are held from the base of the Miraculous Cross. On the Feast Day, there will be three masses at 5.30 am, 8.15 am and 9.30 am. After the Mass is a procession in the marked area and the veneration. People from all over Goa come for the Feast. In the evening, there will be a tiatr which will be near the residence of the chaplain.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
