Priests conduct prayers, presentations ahead of elections

By Melvyn Misquita
in THE GOAN
10 February 2022

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), the social work wing of the Archdiocese of Goa, issues its customary Election Advisory before major elections and this time, it appealed to the Catholic community to vote after ‘prayerful discernment’ ahead of the February 14 elections.

Following the CSJP advisory, priests and religious congregations in the State have been holding prayers in Churches and even presentations on social media, to conscientise people about elections and their duty to cast votes.

“A special ‘Prayer for Elections’, issued by the CSJP and circulated by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM), is being recited after daily Mass in every Parish,” said Fr Barry Cardozo, director of DCSCM.

Parishioners take part in a Silent Adoration service at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Caranzalem-Tiswadi on Wednesday evening.

Caranzalem Parish Priest Fr Pio Almeida said his parish has conducted a day-long Silent Adoration from Wednesday to Friday to pray for the State as it prepares for the Assembly Elections.

“The Silent Adoration is being conducted from 8.45 am to 7 pm from Wednesday to Thursday and from 8 am to 7 pm on Friday. Besides, the Rosary is recited before the 6.45 am Mass till the date of the elections. God bless all of us, our State and citizens,” said Fr Almeida.

Panaji Parish Priest Fr Walter de Sa said he added a special petition to the ‘Prayers of the Faithful’ at all Sunday Masses in the Panaji Parish from the time the elections were announced.

“During our homilies, we have been conscientising people about elections and their duty to cast votes as per the Social Doctrine of the Church. Of late, we have been reciting a prayer especially composed for the elections at every Mass,” said Fr de Sa.

Fr Gabriel Coutinho, Parish Priest at the Our Lady of Rosary Church in Navelim, said his parish has planned a full-day adoration from 8.45 am to 6 pm on February 11. Various wards and groups in the parish will be conducting these prayer services for about 45 minutes.

Chicalim Parish Priest Fr Bolmax Pereira said adoration services are also being conducted at his parish ahead of the elections.

In Agonda, Parish Priest Fr Patrick Luis will conduct a special prayer service on Friday.

Besides parishes, priests from religious congregations have also been involved in prayers and organising various presentations to educate voters ahead of the elections.

Fr Roland Coelho, Provincial of the Goa Jesuits, said the ‘Collaborative Learning Cafe’, an initiative of the Jesuits in Goa, organised online sessions with different political parties in the State.

“Speakers of various parties were provided opportunities to share -- without interruptions/heckling -- their vision and dream for Goa. This was followed by very interesting Q&A with participants,” said Fr Coelho.

Fr Nelson Lobo, OFM Cap, has taken to social media in a big way to conscientize the Catholic community ahead of the elections.

He has been posting his thoughts on his ‘Wondering Guru’ series on social media.

“I have been presenting my honest point of view in the interest of Goa and Goans. No hidden agenda to target anyone. Like many others, I am also a frustrated Goan wanting to see some good in our administration,” states Fr Lobo in one of his posts on ‘Wondering Guru’.

Fr Lobo has also been posting special videos on YouTube with a focus on elections and in one such video states: “All of us are hoping for a change, for good leaders and for new government. But change depends on God's blessings and our prayers...We need to approach this election through prayer. Let's give God the first place in our election process. We shall vote but let us allow God to decide the leaders for us.”

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Lata sang Konkani song, Latin hymn for famed Goan musician

2 Goan legends Lata Mangeshkar, Anthony Gonsalves shared close friendship

By Melvyn Misquita
In THE GOAN
7 February 2022

People across the world have enjoyed the songs of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar in dozens of languages for over seven decades, but not many are aware that a rare and historic concert in 1958 featured her singing in two special languages: Konkani and Latin.

This concert was one of the highlights of the close, special and long friendship between two Goan music icons, Lata Mangeshkar and the legendary musician, composer and arranger, Anthony Gonsalves.

The Grand Choral and Philharmonic Concert was one of the finest performances of the time, comprising 115 leading musicians and singers at St Xavier's College Quadrangle, Mumbai, on 15-16 April 1958.

FOUR LEGENDS IN ACTION: (Standing from L to R) Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar, Pyarelal and Anthony Gonsalves at a concert in 1958. Photo Courtesy: Laxmi Gonsalves

The concert featured for the first time a fusion of various instruments and styles of the East and West, with the music composed and conducted by Gonsalves.

Gonsalves managed to bring together 115 leading artistes (87 musicians and 28 voices) on one stage and the dozens of acclaimed Goan musicians included Micael Martins (Orlim), Peter Monserrate (Majorda), Chic Chocolate (Aldona) and Damask Braganza (Majorda).

The concert also featured legendary singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey, as well as the famed Pyarelal, performing under the baton of Anthony Gonsalves.

“During this concert, Lata Mangeshkar sang the Latin hymn "Ave Maria" and the Konkani song "Dant Vont Xipai Zaun Mogache". She was happy and proud to have sung a Konkani song and Latin hymn only for my dad, so much so that she even wanted that audio recording of ‘Ave Maria’,” said Laxmi, daughter of Anthony Gonsalves.

Laxmi recalled the great respect that Lata had for her father, besides their close and special friendship over the decades.

“They enjoyed being with each other and discussing music. They shared great, pure, mutual respect and unconditional friendship.”

“During my interactions with Lata, she told me that my dad was a thorough professional and a no-nonsense person in the studio, a brilliant musician with ideas flowing well ahead of his times.”

2 GOAN ICONS: Lata Mangeshkar and Anthony Gonsalves during one of their many special moments. Photo Courtesy: Laxmi Gonsalves

“After they finished rehearsals and recordings, they would occasionally go out to dinner even past midnight...some place called ‘Gazebo’. They would visit each other’s homes and bond with all family members,” said Laxmi.

Laxmi also recalled the time when her dad had left Mumbai and moved to the USA for a few years, without informing anyone or giving his address and contact numbers.

“Lata told me that my dad had suddenly left Mumbai without telling her or anyone the reason, but she found out that he went to New York and made a trip there two years later. She surprised him with her visit and even stayed with dad, mum and my little baby brother for two days.”

“During this visit, she carried a couple of beautiful sarees for my mum, which she treasured for a long time. Lata was very kind and a caring person.”

“She gifted my dad precious statues of Jesus Christ and Goddess Saraswati, which my dad treasured and they are in my safe hands. Dad gifted her a beautiful engraved Macau tea set just before Goa’s liberation.” 

Laxmi also recalled fond memories of her meetings with Lata Mangeshkar.

Laxmi Gonsalves, daughter of famed Goan musician Anthony Gonsalves, and Lata Mangeshkar, during one of their meetings. Photo Courtesy: Laxmi Gonsalves

“I visited her home some years ago, she wouldn’t let me go and kept me for three-and-half hours, chatting and remembering the old times with my dad in the studios and their close friendship.”

“When I visited Lata again in 2018, she gifted me a beautiful saree and said she liked to see me in saree.”

“Whenever I was to go to Mumbai and pay her a visit, I would ask her what she would like from Goa...it was always Goan unpeeled cashew nuts!”

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