Team Café
As an initiative of the
Committee for the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier 2014,
the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman (which is ideating on several projects) recently
released their book, ‘Commemorating Christ in Goa’, on November 22, 2014 at the
inaugural mass of the exposition of St Francis Xavier. Taking shape from a
desire to collate in to one volume some of the significant aspects of
Christianity in Goa, the book was also planned to coincide with the Exposition,
Christmas and the forthcoming feast and canonisation (in Sri Lanka) of St
Joseph Vaz. “There was a large flow of visitors to the state this year as many
pilgrims and other people came for these events. The book is aimed at those who
wish to know something more about the life, culture and faith of Christians in
this part of Asia,” explains Isabel S R Vas, a member of the editorial team,
who wrote the preface to the book.
A commemorative volume,
illustrated with apt photographs that add colour and warmth to the text, it is
largely to sketch for the general reader a picture of the various facets of the
experience of being a Goan Catholic. As the sub-title reads, it is ‘Some
Sketches of the Life and Culture of Christians Yesterday and Today’. “A number
of authors were invited to contribute sketches on various themes, including the
impact of the Church on music, architecture, education, etc. Twenty-four
writers put together these very informative and interesting articles. These are
knowledgeable authors and they all took their contributions seriously,”
elucidates Isabel.
From glimpses into the
arrival of Christianity in Goa to the life and work of revered persons such as
Francis Xavier, Joseph Vaz and Agnelo de Sousa, as well as various cultural
practices in the life of Christians in this region and the contributions of the
Church to society at large, all aspects have been touched upon. The book has
been brought to life by the able photography, design and layout of well-known
designer and author, Wilfred Goes.
