By Matters India Reporter
Panaji: Responding to the call of Archbishop Filippe Neri Ferrao of Goa, St Sebastian’s Chapel at Fontainhas, Panaji will be opened on November 1, said Jovito Lopes, president of the Confraria.
However, the parish church Immaculate Conception will continue to be closed to the public.
“Together with our chaplain Father Roque da Costa, chapel volunteers, representatives of the four zones, Confraria Committee members, and parish pastoral council members we worked wholeheartedly with passion and love of Jesus, to secure the approval from the archbishop,” Lopes, retired sports journalist, told Matters India October 31.
Father Romero Monteiro, the archdiocesan chancellor who visited the chapel on October 30 to check the protocols regarding Covid-19, congratulated the chaplain and the people for being the first in the entire Panaji area to get the approval to begin Mass service.
“People who wish to participate in the Mass are requested register in advance. Only 28 people can attend the Mass at a time,” he added.
In his second circular of October 25, Archbishop Filippe Neri had appealed to all the parish priests and chaplains “to commence the necessary procedure and resume the communitarian liturgical services, latest by November 15, observing the prescribed norms and caution.”
In June the archdiocese had allowed gradual reopening places of worship, after seeking necessary permissions and safety protocols.
Only 91 of 160 parishes in Goa had started with religious services with a small group of faithful, said Lopes.
“While people in general are returning to their daily chores and business, frequenting market places and travelling by public transport we cannot afford to remain an online community, for fear of contamination,” the prelate said.
He urged, “Dearly beloved brothers in the priesthood, do not delay further the reopening of these churches and chapels that are still closed, so as to help our faithful to return to the active reception of the sacraments.”
The archbishop exhorted, “Due attention should be paid that all the faithful including those considered vulnerable by reason of age or illness are given opportunity to take part in the Mass, provided adequate care is taken, even to the extent of having specially arranged celebrations.’
He added, “Fear of contamination should not deter priests and parishioners from reopening churches and conducting religious services while following safety protocols.”
Responding to the archbishop’s circular, John Rebello said, “The call given to the pastors is an encouraging sign to all who have missed out the liturgical services for a very long time. Participating and receiving the sacraments in person is a gift of God for all Catholics. Hence, all those who are confined to their homes should make it a point to go to the Church by observing all the norms and participate worthily in the services and thank God.”
Although many welcomed the news of church opening, a shadow fear lingers. Reminding about the second and more widespread wave of Covid-19 in the USA and in Europe, Joaquim de Souza a lay leader says the “the premature announcement” of church opening “does not become a catalyst for a pandemic which was getting under control.”
In a parish, 68 faithful registered to attend Mass, but only seven turned up.