St Michael the Archangel serves as the patron saint of sick
people who are suffering from
any type of illness. He is also a patron saint of people who work in dangerous
conditions such as military personnel, police and security officers,
paramedics, sailors and grocers and traditionally as prince-protector of the
Jewish people, patron and guardian of Israel. Saint Michael has long been recognized
as the protector and guardian of the Church itself and the angel of the Blessed
Sacrament.
While September 29 is the proper
liturgical date, today, September 30, 2018 is being celebrated as the Feast day
of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the Feast of the Archangels, or the
Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels. The parish community of Anjuna, Taleigao
and Orlim joyously unite to celebrate the annual feast of their Patron St
Michael.
The beautiful blessed village of Anjuna
lapped by the waves of the Arabian Sea, have attracted the fortunes of
travellers for centuries. The Anjuna church is dedicated to St Michael the
Archangel. It is also known as ‘Sao Miguel Arcanjo Igreja em Anjuna, Goa’ in
Portuguese or locally known simply as Anjuna church. It is one of the oldest
churches still standing in Goa, being founded in 1603. The evangelisation
activities were divided in 1555 by the Portuguese viceroy of Goa, Pedro
Mascarenhas. He allotted Bardez to the Franciscans, Tiswadi to the Dominicans
and Salcette together with fifteen south-eastern villages of Tiswadi, including
Chorão and Divar, to the Jesuits.In 1603, the Franciscans erected a massive
church in Anjuna dedicated to StMichael, the Archangel. The original church
building was rebuilt in 1713 and enlarged in 1897. Chapels in Anjuna affiliated
to St Michael Church are Our Lady of Health Chapel, Mazalvaddo; Our Lady of
Piety Chapel, Chinvar; St Anthony Chapel, Praias; Holy Cross Chapel,
Chapora;and St John the Baptist Chapel, Gaunvaddi.
Prince Michael the Archangel is a heavenly
being; we get a few glimpses of his nature and activities in the Bible. He
leads the armies of God to Victory. Since the 15th century, the church of
Anjuna has been dedicated to St Michael. Generations have faithfully venerated
the devotion of nine novenas preceding the feast of their Patron. Anjuna has
given many religious priests and nuns to the missions. The current generations
prefer the Pilar Missionary society and many parents dutifully enrol their sons
in the seminaries for discipline and work ethics. The Society of missionaries
of St Francis Xavier took administrative control in since 1985. Since then, the
hard working missionaries have brought a lot of change in the spiritual and
social justice scene of the villagers’ lives.
The parishioners are currently shepherded by Rev Fr Patrick
Luis, sfx, a vibrant, energetic, humble priest of the Pilar Society, who works
tirelessly for the spiritual well-being of his parishioners for promoting the
cause of the beatification of the famous son of our village, Ven. Father Agnelo
Dsouza. The Pilar society also manages the village school Sacred Heart of Jesus
High School for the village chapel committee Nossa Senhora Saude, generously
built for the villagers by the late Dr. Armando Mascarenhas family.
Having
completed 500 years, each annual feast is a renewed dedication to serve the
mission of the Church. The pillars of faith, social justice, hope, peace, share
and serve in a community spirit, the ethos of witnessing Jesus salvific mission
on Earth. The parishioners of Anjuna invoke Archangel Michael as a protector of
their business activities, which are also related to tourism. Anjuna is made up
of 21 wards and almost all contribute to the state Government Tourism
Exchequer. As simple village paying guest houses are replaced with boutique
resorts and hostels, many villagers are silently resisting this
commercialisation, while diligently working under the watchful eye of Prince
Michael the Archangel.
Famous pilgrimage shrines of St Michael, world over
St Michael’s Cave in Gargano, Italy
Le Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy, France
Chapel of St Michael in Kilmihil, Ireland
San Miguel Church in Manila, Philippines
St Michael’s Chapel in Tarpon Springs, Florida
Chapel
of the Sacred Heart and St Michael in Westminster Cathedral, UK
