On 20th of
this month, I had an opportunity to meet and talk to our new Pe. Vigar, Fr.
Joao Santana de Cristo Reis Colaco. On
first of this month officially he took charge of Candolim Parish as Parish
Priest. His earlier posting was in
Agacaim where he served with all his humility.
Originally he is from Navelim Salcette and did his early Seminary education
at Saligao and then at Rachol Seminary and ordained as Priest on 15.12.1988.
We, the Candolim
parishioners were praying to God to give us a good and humble Pe. Vigar and
after my 30 minutes of face to face talk to him, I am convinced that he is the
right choice for us in our Parish. Looks
like God has granted our prayers. I can only say with joy that we the Candolim Parishioners
got our “Eureka”.
A soft spoken Priest,
he has enthusiasm and love for doing something good for our Parish and
Parishioners as well. To one of my
questions, “how you will tackle the issue in our Parish where many Catholics,
males and females are living an immoral and illicit life with strange partners,
replied he saying that he will use the Church Altar to educate the parishioners
and secondly he will personally meet
with all these parishioners who are living a filthy and sinful life without legally
getting wedded”. In this way he said he
will change their spiritual life.
For another question of
mine, “how you will utilize the One Crore of Rupees fund accumulated by the
previous Pe. Vigar for our Church? Will
you still tax the Parishioners by asking donations and contributions for any
activities in the Church or for any development in the Church?” For this he replied saying that he is not in
favour of unnecessarily taxing the Parishioners many of whom are living a very
hard life. Secondly, when we have a fund
in our kitty then there should not be any need for taxing the parishioners.
During the time of
Novenas of Our Lady of Hope and even otherwise, Parishioners are forced to cook
some eatables at home by spending money from their pockets and sell the same during
the Novenas and money collected thus are taken by the Church. When I questioned him on this topic whether
it is right to put financial pressure on the parishioners in this manner, replied
he saying that since he is new in our Parish, he will wait, watch and decide
accordingly.
Then I raised another
issue with him of the Parishioners not
coming to our Parish Church but instead going to the neighbouring
Churches to attend the religious services there, as a mark of protest against
the previous Pe. Vigar’s arrogance. When I asked him “how you would woo them
back?” With a surprise for knowing some
strange happening in our Parish, he replied saying “I will go deep into this subject and do the needful.
On the topic of
“creating a fund for Poor persons in our Parish”, he replied saying it is
already in existence.
For yet another
question, “what will be your criteria to select laypersons to distribute Holy
Communion in the Church”, he replied saying he will select good persons who are
morally upright and God fearing”. It is
to be noted that any Ladru-Pedru type of person should be avoided if the
holiness of Holy Communion is to be maintained.
The holiness of Holy Communion is lowered by those undeserving
laypersons who are given the privilege of distribution of Holy Communion by the mentally sick Pe. Vigars. This privilege is become for some a mode of cheap prominence.
During my course of
discussion with him, I found him very humble, sincere, friendly and straight
forward Pe. Vigar. He assured me to deal with the Parishioners with Love and
Friendship. Further he assured to be of
help to any parishioners anytime and nobody should feel backward to approach
him.
Candolim Village is a historical
village having given birth to the great man Abade Faria and Pintos
Revolutionaries. Candolim was dotted
with great personalities most of these personalities
are dead and gone. They have contributed
a lot for the promotion of Candolim Village but unfortunately their
replacements are yet to be born. It
looks there is no womb in the mothers of Candolim Village to produce great sons
and great daughters. One of the reasons
for this dearth is the lack of required Spiritualism in the Parishioners.
Earlier Candolim has produced renowned sons in diverse fields but now you don’t
see great stalwarts and great intellectuals, most of the current so called
greats are corrupt people and many of them are Catholics, unfortunately. Some of the sinful people in our village are
the Catholic politicians who bring a very bad name to Catholicism.
In the field of Tiatro,
Candolim produced two of the finest Tiatrists of Konkani Stage namely Alexinho
de Candolim and Young Menezes. After their death, there is none of their calibre. In the
field of Sports, Candolim is yet to produce another footballer like Dioginho
Vaz and Foot-ball administrator Dr. Gustavo Monteiro who rose to the Presidency
of Goa Foot-ball Association during the Portuguez time and continuing till
after Portuguese left. He gave his life
for the promotion of soccer in Candolim. After his death, there did not come
another Dr. Gustavo Monteiro in Candolim and if I go a bit further, Candolim
will never produce another Dr. Monteiro whose contribution in other fields too, were immense. In the field of Education, Candolim is
yet to produce another Pe. Roman. In
Candolim, many Catholics are suffering from lot of deficiencies because they
lack basic discipline and guidance at home where the parents are too ignorant
and backward to inculcate the sense of greatness and discipline into the minds of
their children.
Since, the new Pe.
Vigar is known to be sympathetic to the plight of the Catholics, I request him
to use the Church forum and Church facilities to help the Candolim Catholics to
elevate their level. In Candolim due to flourishing tourism, many of the Catholics
are having lot of money which makes them forget of acquiring top education, top
discipline and top character. Many of
the bad habits are associated with Catholics.
This has to be changed Pe. Vigar thru your pastoral and fatherly
guidance.
Wishing you all the
best, Pe. Vigar Joao Santana de Cristo Reis Colaco.
May God Bless You and
may God help you to perform your pastoral duties well.
A.
Veronica Fernandes.
