A file photo of the Vakhann’nni group along with Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao during a concert of Sacred Music.
PANAJI
As many as 250 singers and musicians from all over Goa will present a Sacred Music Concert as part of a felicitation of the new Auxiliary Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes at the Our Lady of Bethlehem Church, Chandor, the birthplace of the bishop, on July 4 at 7 pm.
Fr Simon D’Cunha, mentor of the Vakhann’nni group and Chaplain of Borda, said 80 singers and 63 musicians from the Vakhann’nni group from Borda as well as 52 members of the Children’s Choir will perform at the Sacred Music Concert. In addition 55 children and teachers from the St Joseph Educational institute, Chandor, will also present a choral item.
When contacted, Chandor Parish Priest Fr Jean da Cruz Fernandes said the idea of the Sacred Music Concert had come up when he and Fr Simon had met recently.
“Aux. Bishop Fernandes hails from Chandor parish. Incidentally, similar felicitation programmes had been organised earlier when Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao was ordained bishop in 1994 and later as Cardinal in 2022,” said Fr Fernandes.
“Bishop Simião is also an ex-student of our local school, St Joseph’s Educational Institute, Chandor, and hence, the school students and the staff will join in the felicitation and will present one choral item.”
When contacted, Fr D’Cunha said he had met Fr Jean for the recording of this year’s Pastoral Theme song.
“Fr Jean told me that he wanted to felicitate our new bishop because he is a son of Chandor. I suggested that we could celebrate with te Vakhann’nni group. Incidentally, Fr Jean is also a full-time active member and soloist of Vakhann’nni group,” said Fr D’Cunha.
“And I reminded him about our concert which the Vakhann’nni group had presented for Cardinal Ferrao at Holy Spirit Church, Margao on September 29, 2022. I also remember Fr Peter Cardozo had presented a concert for Bishop Filipe Neri Ferraro at Kala Academy when he was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop in 1994,” he said.
“Fr Jean agreed to the suggestion and we will have a special Sacred Music Concert in honour of our Auxiliary Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes at Chandor,” he added.
