Dear Godfrey, I feel that people should also be allowed to stay and have a picnic, etc. So after the first mass, I hope people will not be forced to leave (in other words chased out). This thought has to do with maintaining affinity with that space and not allowing a redundancy to mar ones spiritual state of mind. For those who are Christians in the cultural sense and even non-Christians, even the knowledge that this reality exists albeit under Naval command may be meaningful to encounter in the enviro-psychological sense -- interaction of people and place.
BTW, this is what I had written in response to Salus Correa's post in 2002. http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva2.htm A post by you in 2004. http://www.colaco.net/1/Anjadiva.htm _______________________________________________________________________________ Hello Salus, I agree with you. However, a nation that professes secularism (at least for the eyes of the world) has to understand the merits and advantages of maintaining its religious spaces. One side may narrowly look at the anguish caused at loosing a religious space as "clinging to things", but it does not have to be seen that way. For the living Christian, the knowledge that the church may be made redundant (although it is sparingly used) and without sufficient attempt by the professed secular State at helping maintain it--will diminish its sense of feeling that we all belong together. On the other hand, I would feel, it would be egalitarian of the Armed Forces to maintain the church and make it available for services and visits. I presume the forces have the infrastructure to do so. This act would resonate well with communal, secular, political, religious forces as well as the international community. The Church could even go so far as to suggest having a presence where it serves the naval personnel by its deeds and not proselytizing. It behooves all Christians to LOVE GRATUITOUSLY despite what one may encounter. These are a few thoughts. Venantius ______________________________________ venantius > From: godfrey gonsalves <[email protected]> > Subject: [Goanet] ARRANGEMENTS FOR FEAST AT ANJEDIV > > The Archbishop of Goa and Daman has been requested by this writer??on > 31/12/2008 via email to intimate well in advance the authorities at INS > Kadamba at Arga Uttar Kannada Karnataka of the programme for the customary > Feast of Nossa Senhora de Brotas on 2nd February, 2009 on the Anjediv Island > off?Canacona Taluka. > ? > To ensure that there is no overcrowding of the Island on the Feast Day, two > Masses are suggested to be held one at 1030 hrs and the other at 1430 hrs. > ? > In view of the Island being a restricted area ?security measures are needed > ; hence it is?MANDATORY ?that all visiting faithful should be instructed to > carry photo-identity cards .? > ? > The Naval authorities on the Island will be required to make arrangements > for cleaning the precincts of the Church ( which in any case they are > expected to maintain as per the terms of the order dated December, 1987 on > the handover of the Island? for use of the Sea Bird ) safe drinking water., > mobile toilets, and to permit a half day visit preceeding the Feast day to > enable the?priests from Goa ?to make arrangements for the Mass on the Feast > day. > ? > Since 2004 the INS Kadamba at Arga? on some pretext of training excercise > or construction activities etc were denying the faithful to celebrate the > Feast . This is clearly a violation of the agreed terms .? The Govt of Goa > has in a letter to this writer reiterated the committments that the Navy > should honour viz celebration of the customary feast not only on 2nd Feb but > also on 4th Oct Feast of St Francis de Assisi in the Chapel on the Anjediv > Island now lying in partial ruins (visit?www.colaco.net for?details)? >
