Church of Our Lady of Springs on the Anjedive island is in ruins and might collapse as neither the govt nor the sheperds of the church are interested in one of the oldest churches in India.

History is testimony to the fact that on August 22, 1502 Fr Henrique de Coimbra with other eight Franciscans, landed at Anjedive Island as part of the second Portuguese expedition under the leadership of Pedro Alvares Cabral. On arrival a makeshift chapel was built at the island and first mass was celebrated in Goa. Later a permanent church was built at the same location in 1506.

There is another landmark on the island ‘Chapel of St Francis D’Assisi’ located near this Church, which has not been refurbished and is mostly in ruins like the church.

The Church of Our Lady of Springs on Anjedive Island is located 4 kilometres south of Baticala, the ancient kingdom of Garsopa, in present-day Karwar. A causeway built by the naval Sea Bird Project leads to this historic church on the island. The church is also approachable by boat from the Binga beach. In the past, the approach involved a trip of one hour by trawler and then by canoe to the island.

Until recently, Goan Catholics from all parts of the world and the devotees from all over Karnataka have been visiting this “Brotas” church on pilgrimage. After the Indian Navy took over the island to establish ‘Project Sea Bird’ (a naval base project), disputes have cropped up on allowing pilgrims to visit the church here, since the area is now considered a military ‘high security’ zone.

After disallowing, temporarily the feast was allowed to be celebrated on Feb 2, 2004 due to persistent pressure. However, after that the issue has remained unresolved although the locals and the Christians from Canacona have been requesting the navy each passing year to allow the feasts to be celebrated. The issue has been raised in the past in the Parliament by Goa’s MPs.

Reliable sources also recollected how the CM of Goa Manohar Parrikar in the past had donated Rs 25,000 for maintenance of this church.
Natividade D’Sa, a senior citizen and a social activist from Canacona Taluka who has been felicitated in the past in recognition of his selfless service for humanity, spoke told Herald: “I wrote to Assistant Bishop of Ranchi Msgr Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBCI) and highlighted the issue faced by the devotees and requested him to take up the matter on our behalf. I even handed over a letter in this regard to Portuguese Prime Minister Mr António Luís Santos da Costa, during his official visit to Goa last year.”

However, Herald investigation brought startling facts about this island which has three survey numbers (S.No.) viz, S. No. 1 with Govt of India, defence as occupant and having a total area of 950 sq Mts; S. No. 2 with Goa Daman and Diu and Govt of India, defence as co-occupants having an area of 232,025 sq Mts and having 5 structures totalling 775 sq Mts and S. No. 3 with Govt of India, defence as occupant with area of 105,400 sq Mts and has 6 structures with 325 sq Mts are. The church and the Chapel fall in survey No. 3.

Manuel Fernandes, who is the founder member of a group called “Catholics of Canacona” which is in the forefront to safeguard and welfare of Christians in Canacona, said that the Karnataka Govt has extracted compensation for each sq inch of land acquired for the sea bird.
There were high hopes when Mr. Manohar Parrikar was elevated to head the defence forces, but due to reasons unknown the church of “Our Lady of Springs” whose name can be traced to the existence of a fresh water spring on the island may disappear after standing tall for over five centuries.

The Canacona MLA, Isidore Fernandes, however, said that he is aware of the issue and will take it up in the next assembly session.

(Source: OHerald)