It was an exhilarating experience at Old Goa.We have seen and experienced the ‘goodness of Goa’, at Old Goa. The kind attitude, caring services, the best of the arrangements and logistics, the cleanliness, the smiles on everyone’s faces and the beautiful atmosphere, made us feel the ‘divine presence’ at Old Goa particularly in and around the heritage Churches.
Who says we are far behind other countries in arranging such events like ‘Exposition’? The arrangements this time are more than comparable to other religious places in other parts of the world, like Our Lady of Lourdes in France, the Holy Land in Israel and Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal.
A pat on the back for all those who took part in planning and executing the arrangements particularly the Exposition Secretariat of Goa Government and the Church Exposition Committee. We cannot forget the smiling faces of those volunteers who came from different parishes, the scouts and others who rendered dedicated assistance to senior citizens in taking them by wheel chairs and guiding them from entry point to veneration place and then up to the exit gates. Yet another pleasant experience of courtesy from the police personal who were guiding the people to Se Cathedral which deserves recognition.
As regards, the restoration and renovation works undertaken on the 17th Century Se Cathedral, by the Archaeological department, it was felt that the works undertaken by them are not properly completed, particularly the interiors, or they have not planned for the best practice of ‘renovation of such wonderful sacred and historical monuments’. The concerned authorities must relook into this aspect to restore and maintain these monuments which are our Nation’s heritage properties.
