On 17 July we celebrate the 275th death anniversary of Fr Jacome Gonsalves. This illustrious Servant of God, the saintly Goan missionary, ‘the extraordinary talented son of Divar’, who toiled silently in the vineyard of the Lord, in the land of Ceylon, ‘with Faith, Love and Self-Sacrifice’.
‘An Oratorian savant, successor to Fr. José Vas, who graced the Mission and made it grow for 37 years. He was born in the village Graça, Chorão, on June 8, 1676. Son of Tomás Gonçalves, from Piedade and Mariana
Abreu, from Graça. He died on July 17, 1742 and is buried in the Bolawate Church, Ceylon’.
Strange as it may appear, after the solemn commemoration held at Ceylon in 1942, on the occasion of the 2nd centenary of his death occurred in 1742, and the enthusiastic celebrations of the 210th death anniversary, in 1952, by his native Island of Divar, in Goa — the memory of Fr Jácome was gradually allowed to fall into oblivion.
However, with the recent canonisation of St. Joseph Vaz, the spotlight is now on the Cause of Fr Jácome and there is presently great enthusiasm and effervescence in Sri Lanka and Goa, in particular in his native Divar.
In Sri Lanka, where his missionary action took place and where he rests in a grave at the St. Mary’s Church at Bolwatte, the congregation venerate Fr Jácome as a saint, hoping that he would at least be beatified very soon.
In Goa, Fr Eremito Rebello, former vice-postulator for the cause of canonisation of St Joseph Vaz, initiated in 2015 the spade work for reviving the cause of his canonisation, and preliminary action has been initiated with the active participation of his co-islanders of Divar.
The parishioners at Our Lady of Piety Church, at his native island of Divar, immediately held an annual commemoration day, to pay tribute to the great missionary. A more than 200-year-old portrait of Fr Jacome Gonsalves, presently honoured in the photo-gallery of the parochial residence, was garlanded and placed below the altar.
On the occasion, the Divarkars formulated a plan to undertake the preliminary work of instituting the cause of canonisation of the illustrious son of the Island. An Executive Committee under the chairmanship of the parish-priest, Fr Jose Dias, was constituted to coordinate and focus all the local activities. Most importantly, a prayer group formed to pray for the cause.
Enthusiastic celebrations were held in Divar on July 17, 2016, in commemoration of his 274th death anniversary, by holding a solemn concelebrated mass at the Our Lady of Piety Church, attended by a large congregation, with people coming even from neighboring islands to honor the saintly missionary.
On Sunday 16th July on the occasion of his 275th death anniversary a Eucharistic celebration will be held at the Divar church celebrated by Fr Joseph Fernandes and on July 17 an Eucharistic celebration will be held at the Our Lady Of Divar High school celebrated by Fr Eremito Rebello.
