05-05-2013 … With no action coming forth from the asi authorities in goa The parishioners of st see cathedral parish situated at old goa has raised apprehensions and concerns over the ancient old paintings that having gone missing in the various chapels and altars in the Se-cathedral church of old goa in the last few months …
It may be noted that the parishioners led by its parish priest fr leonard corriea in a letter on 1st of February 2013 written to dr shivanand rao superintending archeologist of asi goa circle had brought to the notice of the asi officials that many paintings were missing in the various chapels and altars in the
Se-cathedral church which were been removed by the asi authorities without informing the church authorities
Speaking to goanreporter one of the parishioner said “it’s just only another eighteen months left for the exposition of the relics of st francis Xavier to begin here and the asi officials are least bothered to take a note of the issues which we have brought to their notice and now we the parishoner’s of old goa are concerned as how things would work out for the 2014 exposition if such type of issues are there to be solved”
The letter which has also been addressed to his grace rev Felipe neri ferrao, along with fr joseph salema of pastoral institute and fr santumino dias of see cathedral informs about several difficulties faced by the parishioners of old goa who have mentioned that no proper inventory of religious articles, holy pictures, furniture’s, fictures, paintings etc were being maintained by asi and church authorities and that there was no proper coordination maintained between the asi and church authorities whenever such paintings, anti crafts, religious items are removed for restoration
The altar of our lady of good hope and other in the se cathedral are in a dilapidated condition for the past several moths and no restoration work whatsoever has been initiated in spite of several oral requests and reminders on the ground that no budgetary provision have yet been made
While we appreciate the demolition of the rooms near the see cathedral the shed behind the museum still remains and the parishioners would like to draw the attention against the conversion of the arches of st Francis of Assisi church in to rooms provided for accommodation to the asi staff
The parishioner’s have brought to the notice of the asi in the past that there have been serious instances where huge pieces of plaster and stone have collapsed from the ceiling of blessed sacrament chapel in the see-cathedral during the religious services thereby rendering the chapel unsafe to conduct religious services and the same has not been attended yet
The asi has also built structures near the cemetery which was initially used to store construction material but is now being used to park their staff vehicles while the compound wall around the cathedral is incomplete starting from the public toilets behind the cathedral to the chapel of st Catherine
The security employed by the asi is a waste of taxpayer’s money as they fail to maintain the decorum and sanctity of the complex as it is noticed that gardens are used for unlawful activities such as smoking and consumption of alcohol etc and the security staff creates hurdles for the parishioners when they seek to enter the premises for prayers or meetings with the parish priest
