Team Herald
CANACONA: The Christian community in Goa and Karwar is once again pained immeasurably to understand that the Naval authorities, in spite of numerous representations have not permitted the celebration of the customary feast of Our Lady of Springs church at Anjediva Island. The Church, built in 1506, has been pining for the feast celebration on February 2, since 2005 while naval authorities continue to cite security reasons to prevent the celebrations on the island.
Christian leaders from Goa and Karnataka have been raising the issue on various platforms since 2005, to allow entry for pilgrims at least on the occasion of the feasts of Our Lady of Springs church on February 2, and St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, every year.
Notwithstanding the fact that the then Commodore, Station Commander, Karwar vide his letter No. SB/K/2005 dated July 4, 2002 had asked the president of the Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) to make necessary arrangements to shift the Church from Anjediva Island.
The letter specifies that the shifting be done by May 2003 as visitors would be barred from entering Anjediva island keeping the nation’s security in mind.
When this correspondent inquired with Capt. Eddie Viegas, who was the president of CAG that year, he informed that the Commodore had wrongly addressed the letter to them.
“We told him that the church, one of the first built in India, is owned by the Archdiocese of Goa and the Bishop is the authority in regard the matter”, said Capt. Eddie.
Sources at the Bishop’s Palace in Panjim however, outright rejected the idea of the naval authorities of shifting the church from the island as absurd to say the least.
“We have been following the matter with State and the Central government to no positive reply from their end, the church is important in the context of Christianity in India and the navy has to allow us to celebrate the feasts,” said another source.
The naval authorities denying entry to the island since last 15 years the Goan Christian community, be it in Goa or other parts of the world is patiently awaiting with emotions at a high, as they yearn for a simple answer from the authorities as to when they will allow to celebrate the feasts on the island.
With all the appeals of the peaceful Christian community to allow the pilgrims to hold feast on the island church held up at various government hierarchy till now, the pilgrims are pinning their hope on prayers to Our Lady of Springs and St Francis of Assisi, the patrons saints of the religious structures on the island to soften the stand of the authorities and to accede to the request of the community to hold the feasts at the earliest.
