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Verem Church Celebrations THE church of Reis Magos, Verem, which is one of the oldest churches of Goa, will be completing 450 years of its construction in the coming year i.e. 2005. It is the first church built in Bardez taluka in the year 1555. This church was not only a centre of evangelisation but also a centre of learning during those times. It came to be known as a ‘Royal Church’ as a number of Portuguese Viceroys and Governors took charge of office in this church. The Portuguese government declared it a national monument in 1932. The Goa government notified it as a monument of state importance. It stands majestically on the bank of river Mandovi by the side of Reis Magos Fort, just opposite the Kala Academy which is now the venue of the IFFI and is visible from the Panaji river front. The Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, which is entrusted with its maintenance and conservation, has of late, done a commendable job of re-painting the altars, restoring the fallen pulpit, chemical preservation of the numerous paintings on the wooden panels which adorn the walls etc. Nevertheless, plastering and painting of interior walls and plugging of heavy leakage during the monsoons remains to be undertaken. The parishioners of Reis Magos village under the leadership of their Parish Priest Fr Jose Ubaldo D’Cunha, have planned to celebrate this jubilee year 2005 in a befitting manner. People in general, as also the concerned government departments like Directorate of Archives and Archaeology, Directorate of Tourism etc should extend their co-operation and support so that the year-long celebration beginning from January 2005 becomes a grand success. OSWALDO MENDONCA, Reis Magos
