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
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