TEAM HERALD
CURCHOREM: Parishioners of Guardian Angel Church, Curchorem, on Wednesday decided to intensify their agitation to demand reinstatement of Fr James Torres e Silva as parish priest.
Addressing press conference, former Confraria president William Fernandes said parishioners will organise candle light procession on September 29 to show solidarity to Fr James, who has been relieved from duties as parish priest on health ground.
“The procession will start from the church premises at 6 pm and culminate at church compound after wending its way through the Curchorem market,” he informed.
Confraria President Anthony Menezes explained the reason behind the agitation and said parishioners will proceed to the Bishop’s Palace on October 1 and hold peaceful agitation.
“It is learnt that Fr James is coming back in October,” said Menezes and requested the Archbishop to re-instate Fr James immediately on his arrival and also appoint new Fabrica committee,” said Menezes.
Youth representative, Nigel Cardozo, said Fr James never told them about his health, but informed them that he was leaving for America and planned various activities for the full year.
Parishioners, Mathew D’Costa, Prisca Fernandes, Salvador Pereira and Paxiao Pereira were present.
It may be recalled that parishioners have been aggrieved ever since Fr James was recently relieved from the parish. Fr James had requested Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao to relieve him on “health grounds” and that the same had been granted.
While he has officially been relieved on health grounds, Fr James had told Herald that he is “fit and fine”, fuelling speculation that his transfer had been prompted following the interference of a former priest of the parish.
The aggrieved parishioners had confronted Episcopal Vicar of South Zone Fr Lucio Dias after Mass on September 15, to protest against his announcement that hardly 200-300 parishioners had gathered for a meeting on September 9 to demand the reinstatement of the parish priest. Following the tension at the Church, Curchorem PI Siddhant Shirodkar had rushed to the site and had brought the situation under control. He had requested the parishioners to submit their demands/grievances to him so that he could forward it to the district administration and diocesan superiors for an amicable solution in the matter.
Later, Curchorem Police sent a confidential report to the South Goa Collector, Quepem deputy collector and Superintendent of Police, in connection with the tension that prevailed at Guardian Angel Church on September 15.
In his report, PI Shirodkar had requested authorities to hold a dialogue between all parties concerned.
At the meeting convened by Quepem Deputy Collector and SDO Prashant Shirodkar to discuss the issue on Tuesday, representative of the Archbishop and Guardian Angel Church Curchorem failed to attend the meeting.
