It is great to be a priest and greater still is to celebrate 50 years of one's priesthood
It is an honour to be a priest and greater honour is to celebrate golden jubilee of one's priestood.
Pe. Marcos Menezes as we know him from the beginning of his priesthood, today marked his golden anniversary of his priesthood with a Mass at his home place Church Chinchinnim, Salcette with joy and prayers. Patriarch Ferrao was the main celebrant of the holy Mass attended by the capacity faithfuls mainly the senior citizens including 18 priests, not only from Chinchinnim and other parts of Salcette but also from different parts of Goa.
Soon after his ordination in 1959, a fresh at very tender age from Rachol Seminary where he did his priestly studies, Pe. Marcos Menezes was posted as Pe. Cur to Candolim. I was a very young boy then and doing my studies at Parochial School in Candolim in the mornings and in the aftenoons at Escola Primaria de Abade Faria where I was doing my Portuguese studies. Being a Church School boy plus Choir and Altarboy, I was the first person to come in contact with Pe. Marcos to be his friend and in fact he took me as his good friend.
His first mission in Candolim was to start his own classes for the benefit of Portuguese language students especially those having weak knowledge of this subject, these classes he started in the church premises in the afternoons. Many of the weak students in Portuguese availed of this facility, of course, free of charge.
When St. Theresa High School was transferred to the Church premises, Pe. Marcos Menezes helped many of the poor students by paying their fees, of course from his own personal pocket. In this way he helped many parents of their financial burden but without disclosing it to anyone.
His other mission was to help the poor locals in different ways. Once in my presence one old lady from Murod Vaddo came running to him asking for financial help to take her ailing young daughter to the doctor. Without uttering a single word, Pe. Marcos Menezes opened his purse and gave the poor lady Rs. 20/- instructing her never to return this money back and also advising her to approach her for further asistance, if needed.
Pe. Marcos Menezes was a great lover and player of soccer. Hailing from Chinchinnim he inherited lot of soccer talent from his village known for producing best of soccer stalwarts of Goa. Seeing his soccer playing talent, the local Candolim Sports Club inducted him in their team as one of the main players playing as right back but using both his legs with equal ease but little shy in the aerial duels. As a Candolim XI player he played for Candolim in many of the inter village tournaments organised in Bardez during those days. He played by wearing his Cassock since removing one's Cassock was forbidden then for a priest. He also supported local footballers by entering Candolim team in many inter village tournaments in Bardez even by paying entry feees from his own pocket. For some promissing but poor boys playing football, he gave football kits free of charge. Because of his love for soccer, he became darling of the locals and everyone loved him in the village very much. He always treated everyone with the same love and respect without any discrimination but above all he loved the poor and down trodden more.
He was also a great lover of Tiato and also a promoter of Tiatro. Candolim was known to organise best of Tiatros during those days and he used to attend all those Tiatros. Besides, he also staged his own Tiatros with the participation of young boys and girls from the schools in the Church Square, I acted in two of such Tiatros. Because of such activities even Alexinho de Candolim once applauded him fabulouly and volunteered his help if required. Becuase of such extra curricular activities, he radiated brightness in Candolim and everyone liked what he did.
He enjoyed highests respect in Candolim till his leaving for USA in mid sixties. His tenure in Candolim was scandalfree. He received lot of admiration from all the communites from Candolim when he was leaving Candolim for good. He did not like pompousness nor show but simple way of living. He identified himself with the masses and poor and took pleasure in solving their problems. In Candolim such a charismatic and upright priest we are yet to see.
May God Bless Pe. Marcos Menezes and keep him going for many more years in the service of God and Mankind.
On behalf of myself, all my family members, like minded friends and his old students I wish Pe. Marcos Menezes a very happy 50th anniversary of his priesthood.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
