Goans world over will have an ocassion to rejoice on hearing the news of the elavation of Auxiliary Bishop of Goa & Daman diocese as the Archbishop of Goa replacing His Grace, Archbishop Dr Raul Niclau Gonsalves who had retired in June 2002 on attaining the age of superannuation 75 years but continued in office.
This indeed is a red letter day as 16th January, reminds one of the Feast of Blessed Fr Jose Vaz of Sancoale amd the day Goans cas their precious vote to safeguard Union Territory status to Goa Daman and Diu at the historic Opinion Poll this day in 1967. It is hoped that the new appointee will make the Catholic Church more vibrant dynamic and face blodly the challenges in the changed circumstances in the country. This writer pleads with the newly appointed Archbishop to pursue immediately the matter of intimation to the Chief of Naval Staff and the Defence authorities about celebrating the Feast of Nossa Senhora de Brotas Our Lady of Springs on 2nd February, 2004 at Anjediv Island off Canacona strictly as per the understanding reached by the Goa Government and the Naval authorities, 1987 ensuring also that all the faithful will adhere to the security considerations and other measures as his first onerous task given the illegal ban imposed from May 2003 by the erstwhile Station Commander Cmdr B. R, Rao Sea Bird project based on his misrepresentation of facts to the Defence Minister Mr George Fernandes that a dozen temples were shifted from the Island, which is a blatant lie. Secondly the Archbishop should make an inventory of all the land and other movable and immovable assets of the Diocese of Goa & Daman with detailed documentation and initiate measures to retrieve movable assets that have gone out of hand clandestinely with the intervention and assistance of the lay faithful. Thirdly the Archbishop should revamp the entire Pastoral Council and other bodies so that it inducts fresh blood and gives representation to the lay people representing each of the segments of the Diocese. Fourth the Catholic Church in Goa & Daman should put in place immediately a network of effective communication using the electronic media to disseminate information and put up a brave front to check populist fundamentalist propoganda that threatens this tiny State which is a cauldron of communal harmony. We extend our support well wishes and seek Gods guidance to pursue this agenda. Godfrey J. I. Gonsalves Borda margao Goa [EMAIL PROTECTED] ________________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Mobile: Download the latest polyphonic ringtones. Go to http://in.mobile.yahoo.com ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
