PANJIM: The Old Goa Church authorities have taken a serious view of some stall keepers jumping the Basilica of Bom Jesus wall to use the tap water facility in the church premises during the novena days being celebrated in preparedness for the feast of St Francis Xavier.
The authorities on Tuesday said even though the Government has put up some 20 to 24 mobile toilets in the area for the novena days the same wasn’t enough and more needed to be done to see that everything was managed in a professional manner.
The church authorities maintained lakhs of people throng Old Goa during the novena masses in preparation for the feast of St Francis Xavier, but the international heritage area had a few mobile toilets to cater to such a big number of devotees.
Rector Fr Savio Barreto said what was adding to the problem is a regular feature of stall keepers crossing over a wall of the Basilica of Bom Jesus on the Gandhi Circle side and entering the church premises to have bath.
Fr Barreto maintained it is so unruly to see these men, mostly Hindi-speaking, bathing in their underclothes when devotees are converging to attend church services in the morning. The panchayat, I think, has to do more to take care of the sanitation because we are situated in an internationally recognised heritage site, he asserted.
The main coordinator for the novena masses, Peter Viegas, observes there is no harm in the traditional stall keepers coming in and using the tap water facility near the Basilica, but these migrants have scant regards for sanitation and decency. “This year, too, we are having the same problem. If the toilets set up in the area are enough then why do we have these men jumping over the church wall and entering inside,” he questioned.
Viegas said since we have these men jumping over it can be even construed as a problem of security breach. Even though there are local policemen and other national security men around, these miscreants surprisingly find their way inside the church premises, he said and added, “When they were inside I informed 100 once but nothing happened.”
The panchayat has allotted roughly 700 stalls, including the ones set up on private properties. Old Goa Sarpanch Jenita Madkaikar maintained besides the mobile toilets there are toilets of PWD and Sulabh. People should also act responsibly to go and use these facilities, she stated.(HD)
The Goa government has no respect to the church authorities because the priests do not know to keep their respect. Many priests are found in the corridors of the Secretariat to eat the bread crumps thrown away by the ministers. I have seen personally the priests asking favours with the ministers. When the minorities are suffering there is no protest from the chruch. Our bishop is there always to witness the flag hoisting ceremony at Campal. They even call the ministers to celebrate Christmas over a dinner. at Bishop's Palace. Even very corrupt politicians. They say openly that "CORRUPTION IS BETTER THAN COMMUNALISM"
ReplyDeleteThere have been many comments about the term "Ghantis".Some people believe these sort of people (Ghantis)do not exist.
ReplyDeleteWhile many civilised and cultured Indians of all religious beliefs respect Religious functions...it is these sorts of people that have brought the Term" Ghantis" upon themselves with their behavioral patterns.
They are Indians, and have a Constitutional and fundemental right to live anywhere in India.
However when they bring along, their uncivilised and disrespectful behavior...in this case Goa...they fully deserve to be called Ghantis.
The term Ghantis is not used for educated,civilised and cultured Indians.It is used to describe a sub-cultured and sub-civilised human species.In some countries they are refered to as savages.
Visit any State in India...and they all have a term to describe such despicable human beings.
As I write this comment...I am aware there will be some so called moral "do-gooders",and plain "shit-stirrers who will dispute the term Ghanti I have used.
I hope they will take into account the context of why I have used the term Ghanti.
I now await the clowns and detractors.
The church gets lot of donations, money during masses so why can't it look after its own security? Two years back during end of Novena masses the priest were asking donations from the devotes to pay expenses of pandal, chairs etc.It really surprise me that Bishop with so much funds under his possession could not incurs expenses during Novenas and feast. It is really shame on the part of Goa Government and Goa Diocese to beg for funds on loudspeakers during Novenas and feast day.
ReplyDeleteTo True Goan::: I agree with you.The faithful are always asked to contribute to the Church.It is an old age practice.
ReplyDeleteIt is still practised in churches every day and at every Mass.
What upsets ans shocks me most is when the Church has been wheeling & dealing with the corrupt Politicians and Developers in selling Church Property for mining rights or mega developments.
The Church does not seem to Consult its Parishoners anymore on such matters.
I hope an dPray the Church will get back to their original roots of serving souls instead of selling its "Silver and Gold" to all and sundry.
Chuch properties should be used for Community projects.
WISHING ALL OUR READERS HAPPY FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER OUR PROTECTOR AND PATRON GOANCHO SAIB. BOA FEST.
ReplyDeleteI too,like Franco, would like to extend my good wishes to all readers and also wish them a very happy feast.
ReplyDelete