SANGUEM: Hundreds of Cuddikars thronged to the place of their ancestors to celebrate the feast of the Holy Cross situated at one of the island in the Salaulim dam on Sunday evening.
The island which remains inaccessible during most part of the year has a Chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross. With the water level receding in the summer season, the natives of the Curdi village who were rehabilitated mostly at Valkini and Wadem come together every year during this time of the year to celebrate the feast.
This year close to a thousand devotees gathered on top of hillock to take part in the concelebrated mass.
The main celebrant Fr Sebastian Mascarenhas, Superior General, Missionary Society of Pilar, in his homily said that the Holy Spirit is come to usher peace and happiness while he recollected the village and its people when he was posted as regent before the dam was conceptualized.
Other concelebrants were Fr Americo Rodrigues, manager of Rosary Higher Secondary in Navelim, who also happens to be the son of the soil.
Fr Tadeo Silva, parish priest of Our Lady of Miracles Church Sanguem, Fr Jose Vaz assistant Parish Priest of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Vaddem, Fr Orlando Lopes Manager of Our Lady of Miracles High School, Sanguem, Fr Glen D’Silva Parish Priest of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Vaddem, Fr Pio Furtado Head Master of Our Lady of Fatima High School Rivona, Fr Elvis Fernandes SFX, Fr Minino Mendes SFX and Fr Jerry Vaz Head Master of Guardian Angel High School, Sanvordem.
A devotee Apolonario Gomes, a retired headmaster and ex-sarpanch of Curdi, described this feast as a memorable one and very important to all the Curdikars as this was the place they originally belonged and sacrificed everything for the sake of fulfilling water needs of the people of South Goa.
