Karsten Miranda
On Sunday, after the Holy Spirit Church feast mass, the Postmaster General (Goa Region), Charles Lobo released a special commemorative cover on the occasion of the church’s 450th anniversary.
While symbolic doves and white balloons were also released thereafter, the cover was launched at the hands of retired High Court justice, Eurico Santana Da Silva in the presence of the Margao deanery in-charge, Fr Carmo Martins, parish priest, Fr Avinash Rebelo and other priests.
Journalist Valmiki Faleiro was also credited for his years of research and how his book on the history of Margao and the church titled ‘Soaring Spirit’ had helped the post to understand the magnitude of Holy Spirit Church in its entirety.
Speaking about the history of the church, parish priest Fr Rebello recalled how the church was and how it is now the largest parish in Goa with approximately 15,000 Catholics and 3,500 families.
Fr Nascimento Mascarenhas stated that the church of Margao was founded by the Jesuits in 1564 and the first mass was celebrated on April 11, the Saturday before the second Sunday of Easter of 1565.
