St Anthony's public grotto at Chinchinim church compound Devotees of St Anthony from Chinchinim requested the Church authority to permit them to raise a monument in his honour in gratitude and Thanksgiving. Deussua Chapel at Chinchinim is devoted to the saint and there is a very popular devotion every Tuesday and many of our villagers have strong faith in the saint specially for favours received. Hence rightfully their sentiment around the church compound was a welcome gesture as it would constantly remind the followers of their belief in his spiritual powers and repurpose and old unused religious symbol To the right of the Church on Southern side there is an structure of old cross with an empty niche and most of us are not aware of its special religious use and significance round the year. Faithful volunteered to bear the entire costs and give it a face lift and there is financial burden or request for contributions or new site is earmarked for it No place is encumbered nor any one put to disadvantage or inconvenience.Besides during annual Church feast and round the year the sacred place does not receive the religious respect and sentiment due and nobody has bothered thus far or at best many may not be even aware of its situation and existence .Presently the symbol does not serve a very useful ,regular, religious purpose.There are other monuments like St Judas, grotto to our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph Vaz in the church compound The controversy created by some for cheap publicity is undesirable besides they are not the majority who count There are no justifiable grounds of spiritual misadventure and church bodies are not for self glorification but to enhance religiosity, spirituality, and must serve,promote .greater good and sprituality. In such a scenario those who seem to object without valid religious reasons supported by majority must face the test of majority and must not be allowed to enforce their say for selfish recognition by creating controversy .It is believed that some signatories were falsely induced and signed in good faith but not to object the specific re purpose plan and such motely campaign must be discarded In fact St judas shrine had encumbered the only play field then and monument had to be enclosed being abused for viewing as a public galary .Mild murmurs of objection were rightly ignored in the erection of St Vaz magnificent monument and church decided it and empowered to do so. Forcefully to stop the work by miniscule few in advance stage of completion after due sanctions from the Church is gondaism in religious name and must be nipped in the bud.The church need not seek approval in every matter and authorities are wise enough to take calls The Village of Chinchinim and Parish has enough enlightened, respectful parishioners who rightly believe that church authority is not divested entirely in church bodies to raise unnecessary controversies and to sow seeds of rebellion and discontent and act contrary to deep religious sentiments The grotto as planned would a fitting tribute to the faithfull followers of St Anthony and come alive and add to religious beliefs and deepening of faith. IT would further repurpose the symbol into significant meaningful way, the old unused sacred place subjected to disrespect neglect round the year and help the followers to pay due respect conveniently to their patron saint. OUR neigbourhood is steaming with crosses ,statues of our lady, saints in private residential compounds Football ground, church compound, church hall are converted into sacred places for consecration of holy eucharist and the chapel dedicated to blessed sacrament is now coverted into a hall for meetings etc What then is the justifiable reasonable objection to convert unused, discarded disrespected symbol into a more vibrant,beautiful place close at hand for many bievers of saint. WHO is aggrieved to have a say and what are the social credentials of such protesters Minority can have its say but it is the majority who have the way. Church cannot stop the permission given and allow waste of precious resources already sunk into its development or reimburse the expenditure Vast majority of Parishioners are not even aware and condemn those that stand in the way of religious sentiment of majority of Parishioners It is time to sack any of such nominated self seekers and whose image in the society is suspect or resign gracefully if their opinions are in contrast with legitimate church authorities
Nelson Lopes Chinchinim Nelson Lopes Chinchinim