Pe. Alvito Vaz from Carmona Salcette immediately after
his ordination as a priest was sent as Pe. Cur to Candolim Church somewhere in 1963.
He was a very dynamic priest with full of energy to make development in
the village. While he was serving Candolim Church, his Pe. Vigar Pe. Nicholau
Noronha was transferred from Candolim Church leaving the Church burden on Pe.
Alvito Vaz’ shoulders.
During the last days of Pe. Nicholau Noronha,
he undertook the job of constructing a new building in the church property next
to the Church. Till then the school was
functioning elsewhere in Pintos Vaddo in a big house. When Pe. Nicholau left Candolim Church for
his next posting, Pe. Alvito took charge of all the functions of Pe. Vigar
Nicholau including the Principalship of the School. With his dynamism, Pe. Alvito Vaz carried a
heavy campaign to raise funds for the construction of new building including organizing Tiatros all over Goa to
collect funds for this purpose. Gradually he managed to erect the first phase
of this building where school started functioning there. He even spent his own personal money from his
family funds to complete the first phase.
Suddenly, before the starting of
the second phase meaning upper floor, Bishop of Goa Church Mons. Francisco Rebello using his
prerogative issued a transfer order to Pe. Alvito Vaz from Candolim Church to elsewhere. When this transfer order was known to the parishioners
there was turmoil in the village because
people never expected this from Bishop especially when Pe. Alvito gained so
much of acceptance from the villagers irrespective of their religions. He was
very popular in the village involving himself even in the local sports
activities.
Under the leadership of prominent
local figure Dr. Gustavo Monteiro, a delegation of villagers from different
segments including Hindu and village Sarpanch went to the Bishop House at
Panjim Altinho to request Bishop to withdraw the transfer order of Pe. Alvito
because village and villagers want him there in Candolim to complete the work
he has already undertaken. On behalf of
local youth, I was selected to be a part of this delegation and I also did my
talking to the Bishop, I was a College student at that time.
In one word after listening to
our voice Bishop said NO to withdraw. We came back very disappointed but what
to do, since Bishop is the head of the Archdiocese of Goa and all priests of
Goa are bound to accept his decision, we just kept silence though in the
village there were some fanatics who wanted to organize a Morcha and undertake
a Dharna in front of Bishop Palace in Panjim.
If it was done that way then it would be a political game and Church is
not a political organization and priests are not politicians. They have to be obedient to their leader that
is Bishop. Refusing Bishop's Order by the
priest means disobeying the Bishop's authority which is against the Christian principle.
Pe. Alvito refused to accept the
transfer order and left the Candolim Church and started staying outside. Bishop was annoyed, we told him to obey Bishop's
order as a good priest but he said no. Bishop punished him by stripping him of all
his priestly duties, he was not allowed even to say the Mass. Because of this
incident the image of Goa Church and Goan secular priests received a heavy
blow. This fight between Bishop and Pe. Alvito Vaz reached to such an extent
that finally when independent Church of Cuncolim was formed by the rebel Catholics there, Pe. Alvito Vaz was appointed its head there.
There was total chaos in Goa Church then because of the refusal of accepting
transfer order of Bishop by one priest Pe. Alvito Vaz.
Now what we see in Curchorem
Church is somewhat similar to what has happened in Candolim 45 years back. The local
parishioners in Candolim though supported Pe. Alvito‘s reinstatement yet when
Bishop refused it they all as obedient Catholics kept silent without organising
Dharna, Morcha and Hunger Strike. Dharna, Morcha and Hunger Strike are not appropriate tools to settle the
score of the Church affairs. These tools
are meant to settle political issues and not the Church related issues. Curchorem priest Fr. James as an obedient priest to his Bishop must
have surrendered to his leader’s order instead of silently allowing his supporters in that
locality to create a chaotic situation thereby bringing shame on Christianity. He must know that no priestly
posting is long term posting and no posting is permanent.
Fr. James silence on what is happening in
Curchorem speaks of his acceptance of chaos there because of which the image of
Catholics is getting soiled in Goa. Our
enemies are enjoying over this discord. He should come and tell his supporters
to withdraw their agitation and as an obedient priest instead of promoting rebellion he must go as per the order
of his Bishop.
Ultimately it must be noted that the Goa Church is an
institution and for that matter a very strong institution where individuals
have no chance to shake it and one priest will never be able to shake. Disobedience
to the Bishop goes against the priestly duties.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
