Sesquicentennial anniversary of St Andrew’s Church today

With great pride, we, the parishioners recollect the significant past of our 150 year old parish church of St. Andrew, Goa Velha, known by many around Goa for the famous Santanchem Pursanv. This three storey church built in the Neo-Roman style with Rococo curves, has been the place where most villagers have received various sacraments.  Built in 1869, the church is dedicated to the apostle of Jesus, St Andrew (Santo André) — the patron saint of fishermen and singers. 

The sesquicentennial anniversary will be celebrated on May 4 with a mass at 6 pm.

St Andrew, also known as Andrew the Apostle and is the older brother of St Peter. Both Andrew and Peter were fishermen by trade, who were called by Jesus to become his disciples by saying that He would make them “fishers of men”. Andrew went on to preach the Good News around the shores of the Black Sea and throughout what is now Greece and Turkey. He was crucified in Patras, on a cross form known as "crux decussata," which is an X-shaped cross. His feast day is celebrated on November 30. 

The parish of Goa Velha was born after its separation from its parent parish of Batim. The increase in Catholic faithful and the distance from the church led to the creation of a separate parish for Goa Velha. The Old Church built prior to 1583 existed near the ‘kadamba razam-rannianchi tolli (pond of the Kadamba queen and king). It’s only in the 19th century when the church was about to collapse that it was abandoned. 

The new church, as we see today was blessed in June 1869. The two additional wings were added in the year 1989 and 1995 respectively with the help of financial aid coming from the villagers living abroad.  The church has elegant finials of rose bud and a single bell tower to the left. It has an insignia of a two headed eagle in high relief which is an Augustinian symbol. Two oculi with cross moulding flank the second storey window. Adjacent to the church is the St. Andrews High School which was constructed by Fr. Renato Mendes in the early 1963

When one talks of the parish of Goa Velha it’s impossible to leave out the glorious past of the land. The Konkani name of the village “Vhoddlem Gõi” (Great Goa) is more appropriate in this respect. Goa Velha was once a city of temples and then an ancient port city. In around 1054, the Kadamba ruler Jayakeshi I shifted his capital from Chandrapura – now Chandor in Salcete to Goa- Velha – in order to exercise more control over the movement of maritime traffic through the busy five kilometre long, laterite stone port. The city attained success and fame for 300 years until, in 1312 till its glory was literally shattered when Malik Kafur, general of the Sultan of Delhi raided and razed the city to the ground. Life trickled back to Govapuri, and the subsequent peace of the Vijaynagar rule. Adilshahi rulers built a new port city for Goa at Old Goa, on the banks of the Mandovi.  The Portuguese eventually made the new city (Old Goa) the capital of Portuguese India. 

Goa Velha hosts the renowned Procession of the Saints or santanchem pursanv in Konkani. This tradition was introduced in the 17th century by the Franciscan Capuchos in the Pilar Monastery, in an attempt to boost the moral values and pious behaviour of the community. This traditional procession of saints draws thousands of Christian devotees. It's probably the biggest event in the village. The Procession of Saints takes place on Monday of the 5th week of Lent. This procession leaves the Church of Goa Velha and winds its way through the streets of the village and returns to the church. Prior to the mass, devotees enter the Church and express their devotion to particular saints by kissing and touching the statues whilst deep in prayer.

The celebration of Sesquicentennial anniversary calls for faith building through retreats, formation programs and fellowship in order to make our parish a more vibrant, communion of communities. Several activities have been planned for the entire year.