CHRONICLES OF GOAN CHURCHES
The Church in Tollecanto village, Velim, is dedicated to St Rock and parishioners celebrate the feast on the last Sunday of October, which this year falls on October 27.
THE ORIGIN
The first chapel in the village was constructed in 1883 and it was affiliated to the Velim parish. In 1955, it was elevated to a parish, during the tenure of the last Portuguese archbishop of Goa, Dom Jose Viera Alvarez. Fr Telesfore Fernandes, who was the first resident chaplain, became its first parish priest.
Lately, the building showed signs of deterioration and authorities were in the process of getting necessary permissions from local authorities for its restoration. The front portion of the façade of the church collapsed on October 6, 2020, causing much damage to the building.
The conservation team headed by Dr Menino Allan SM Peter Alvares, sfx and conservation scientist, was formed. The main task before them was to restore the original architectural structure and to recreate the original worship ambience and other artefacts in it.
With great efforts, the team was able to restore the old structure and its old artefacts, such as the pulpit, the wooden railings, terracotta balusters, wood panelled trapezoidal false ceilings, wood gilded and gold-plated retable in the sanctuary along with the wood glided side altars in the nave, etc.
The church floor has terracotta tiles and the old choir loft has been restored and it has the oil painting of Fr Telesfore. The restored church was inaugurated on May 21, 2022, by Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao.
THE CHURCH
The bell is on top of the façade of the church. Below it are stained glass windows that show St Francis Xavier, St Rock, Eucharistic symbols and a star, and on the roadside are those of Mother Mary with Infant Jesus and St Joseph with infant Jesus.
The front area of the church has designed pavements which are used for the feast and other important occasions. Opposite the church entrance are the grotto of our Lady of Lourdes and also the image of St Jose Vaz. On the boundary wall of the church are 14 Stations of the Cross.
THE ALTARS
The Church has three altars, the middle altar in the sanctuary is dedicated to St Rock. The other altars are dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Sorrows.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.)
