Sunday 8 July 2012
Sunday 1 July 2012
REPORT ON O HERALD: DT. 13 JUNE, 2012
Row over ‘ new church’ at Quepem reaches Archbishop’s house
TEAM HERALD teamherald@ herald- goa. com
PANJIM: A group of parishioners from Quepem town descended on the Archbishop’s house at Altinho Panjim, protesting the local parish priest’s plans to build a new church just 100 metres away from the existing Quepem parish church.
They have instead decided that either the present Church to be extended or the new church be built in the same place as this Church.
“ We have come here to express our displeasure and object to the construction of the second church adjacent to the existing church which the Parish Priest Fr Mario Vaz is planning to construct without taking the parishioners into confidence,” those who arrived at the Archbishop’s house said.
However, while the parishioners had come to meet the Archbishop they had to be content with meeting the Secretary of the Archbishop Fr Joaquim Loyola Pereira and Chancellor of the Diocese Fr Manuel Gomes.
They said that while in 2002- 03 there was a consensus to extend the present church, in the year 2008 85% of the parishioners decided that they want the new church at the same place or extension of the same church.
However, villagers say that the parish priest made an announcement during Sunday Mass, quoting ‘ experts’ to say that it would be better to construct a new Church building adjacent to the existing Church, which is the cause of the trouble.
The Parishioners questioned Fr Loiola saying, “ If the decision regarding the Quepem Church is based on the experts’ opinion then why it is hidden from the parishioners?” They said that they suspect something fishy in the moves of all the concerned persons.
Fr Loyola and Fr Manuel Gomes told the parishioners that they have not given any instructions to the parish priest where to build the new church, but the instructions are given to identify the place by taking the other bodies of the church including the parishioners at large into confidence.
They stated that they have not received anything in that regard from the parish priest.
They also assured the parishioners that the Fabrica, PPC and parishioners will have to take all the decisions and then it has to be submitted to them for further processing.
We have come here to express our displeasure and object to the construction of the second church adjacent to the existing church which the Parish Priest Fr Mario Vaz is planning to construct without taking the parishioners into confidence.
-- Parishioners express displeasure
TEAM HERALD teamherald@ herald- goa. com
PANJIM: A group of parishioners from Quepem town descended on the Archbishop’s house at Altinho Panjim, protesting the local parish priest’s plans to build a new church just 100 metres away from the existing Quepem parish church.
They have instead decided that either the present Church to be extended or the new church be built in the same place as this Church.
“ We have come here to express our displeasure and object to the construction of the second church adjacent to the existing church which the Parish Priest Fr Mario Vaz is planning to construct without taking the parishioners into confidence,” those who arrived at the Archbishop’s house said.
However, while the parishioners had come to meet the Archbishop they had to be content with meeting the Secretary of the Archbishop Fr Joaquim Loyola Pereira and Chancellor of the Diocese Fr Manuel Gomes.
They said that while in 2002- 03 there was a consensus to extend the present church, in the year 2008 85% of the parishioners decided that they want the new church at the same place or extension of the same church.
However, villagers say that the parish priest made an announcement during Sunday Mass, quoting ‘ experts’ to say that it would be better to construct a new Church building adjacent to the existing Church, which is the cause of the trouble.
The Parishioners questioned Fr Loiola saying, “ If the decision regarding the Quepem Church is based on the experts’ opinion then why it is hidden from the parishioners?” They said that they suspect something fishy in the moves of all the concerned persons.
Fr Loyola and Fr Manuel Gomes told the parishioners that they have not given any instructions to the parish priest where to build the new church, but the instructions are given to identify the place by taking the other bodies of the church including the parishioners at large into confidence.
They stated that they have not received anything in that regard from the parish priest.
They also assured the parishioners that the Fabrica, PPC and parishioners will have to take all the decisions and then it has to be submitted to them for further processing.
We have come here to express our displeasure and object to the construction of the second church adjacent to the existing church which the Parish Priest Fr Mario Vaz is planning to construct without taking the parishioners into confidence.
-- Parishioners express displeasure
A REPORT IN TOI: DT: 13 JUNE, 2012
Aggrieved over being kept in the dark over the plan of constructing a new church, the parishioners marched to the Bishop's Palace, Altinho, Panaji on 11th June, 2012
Quepem parishioners say no to new church
MARGAO: The proposed construction of a new church in Quepem, adjacent to the existing one, has caused concern among some parishioners. The parishioners are of the view that either the new church be constructed on the land where the current church stands or structural modification/extension be carried out to the existing church to meet the requirements of a more spacious premises.
Aggrieved over being kept in the dark over the plan of constructing a new church, the parishioners marched to the Bishop's Palace, Altinho, Panaji, on Monday to voice their objections. Though they were unable to get an audience with the archbishop, Filipe Neri Ferrao, the parishioners placed their objections before the secretary of the archbishop, Fr Joaquim Loyola Periera and secretariat of fabrica/confrarias Fr Manuel Gomes.
Aggrieved over being kept in the dark over the plan of constructing a new church, the parishioners marched to the Bishop's Palace, Altinho, Panaji, on Monday to voice their objections. Though they were unable to get an audience with the archbishop, Filipe Neri Ferrao, the parishioners placed their objections before the secretary of the archbishop, Fr Joaquim Loyola Periera and secretariat of fabrica/confrarias Fr Manuel Gomes.
The parishioners were assured that the parish priest, Fr Mario Vaz, would be asked to take them into confidence before identifying a place for the construction of the new church.
Speaking to TOI, writer and parishioner of the Quepem church Walter Menezes said that the parishioners were unanimous in their view that there should not be two churches in Quepem.
"In a meeting of the parishioners with the bishop held on January 25, 2011, it was agreed that a committee be formed consisting of parishioners, church authorities and experts to conduct a 'de novo' (fresh) exercise of going into the merits and demerits of the construction of the new church. However, though the names of some four parishioners were also specified, for reasons best known to the church authorities and the parish priest, the committee has not been constituted till date," Menezes said.
Former chairperson of the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) Raul Pereira said, "We need a new church, but in the very place where the one now stands. The requirement of accommodating a larger gathering in the premises can be served by carrying out structural modification and extension of the existing church, while the adjacent land can be developed for parking space," Pereira said. Vaz, when contacted, declined to comments on the issue.
Speaking to TOI, writer and parishioner of the Quepem church Walter Menezes said that the parishioners were unanimous in their view that there should not be two churches in Quepem.
"In a meeting of the parishioners with the bishop held on January 25, 2011, it was agreed that a committee be formed consisting of parishioners, church authorities and experts to conduct a 'de novo' (fresh) exercise of going into the merits and demerits of the construction of the new church. However, though the names of some four parishioners were also specified, for reasons best known to the church authorities and the parish priest, the committee has not been constituted till date," Menezes said.
Former chairperson of the Quepem Municipal Council (QMC) Raul Pereira said, "We need a new church, but in the very place where the one now stands. The requirement of accommodating a larger gathering in the premises can be served by carrying out structural modification and extension of the existing church, while the adjacent land can be developed for parking space," Pereira said. Vaz, when contacted, declined to comments on the issue.
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