FR APOLLO CARDOZO
Merces is situated in Tiswadi taluka and it is said the Dominicans evangelised the village. The Catholic population of Merces is about 7,000, which is divided into 18 wards.
THE VILLAGE
There are two theories regarding how this village got its name. Some people say that this village was given as ‘dennem’ or ‘denngi’ to someone and in Portuguese, the word for these words is ‘Merces’, hence the village got this name. Others say that the Portuguese government or a wealthy person gave it as ‘muzri’ or ‘inam’ or ‘denngi’ to someone.
THE CHURCH
The Church in Merces is dedicated to Our Lady of Merces (Our Lady of Favours) or Nossa Senhora das Merces Igreja em Merces, Goa, in Portuguese.
Originally, it was a chapel constructed before 1600 and came under the jurisdiction of Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz. In 1633, the chapel was raised to the status of the Church.
There was a church in Morombi-o-Grande constructed by the Dominican priest, Frei. Aleixo de Setubal with a residence near it. The same was reconstructed by Bishop Dom Frei Miguel Rangel, a Dominican, with his own finances in 1717. In the course of time and, as the population of the church in Morombi-o-Grande decreased, by the order dated June 15, 1885, it was made into a chapel, which came under the jurisdiction of Merces Church.
A new church building was constructed in 1993 and so too a new parochial house in 1997, just behind the Church. In front of the Church is a marble statue of Christ the King and a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the corner.
The main altar is dedicated to the patroness, Our Lady of Merces and the side altars are dedicated to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of the Rosary. There are quite a few chapels in different wards that come under its jurisdiction.
THE FEAST
The parishioners celebrate the feast of their patroness Nossa Senhora das Merces with great devotion and zeal on the second Sunday of November, which falls on November 13 this year. A large pandal has been erected in the front portico of the church to accommodate the large devotees that come for the Novena and the Feast.
Prior to the Feast is the Maddi, the nine-day Novena, that includes the Rosary at 5.45 pm, followed by Mass with specific themes. On the Feast day, there are two Masses, one at 7.30 am and the Feast Mass at 9.30 am. After the Feast Mass is the traditional procession with the statue of the patroness accompanied by the brass band, the blessing and the veneration of the image. On the roadside and in the open plot is the fare, where one can purchase the traditional Goan sweets and other articles. In the evening there is the Tiatr.
The feast is an occasion for family reunion of those daughters of the village given in marriage elsewhere and so too for those migrated to other parts of Goa.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
