Saint Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered in 258. In Goa, the Feast of St Lawrence is celebrated today, August 10. Two majestic churches in Bardez and Tiswadi will be celebrating the feast dedicated to the martyr.
The Feast of St Lawrence will be celebrated at St Lawrence Church, Sinquerim today with Masses at 6.15 am, 8 am, 10 am and 4.30 pm. The High Mass at 10 am will be followed by the blessing of the sea. The feast of St Lawrence at Sinquerim marks the beginning of a successful post monsoon fishing season for the villagers. The peaceful greenery of the hillock where the Church is located has been preserved by the villagers. St Lawrence Church dates back to 1688 and has been celebrating the feast of their patron with a meaningful celebration on August 10, every year. According to the traditions, without the blessing of the sea, the fishermen would not start their fishing season. The sea is first blessed and then the fishing activities begin.
Parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Agasaim, informs, “The High Mass will be celebrated by Fr Joseph Fernandes. Fr Gabriel Fernandes will celebrate the 6.15 am Mass, Fr Seville Antao will celebrate the 8 am Mass, and Fr Kennedy Menezes will celebrate the 4.30 pm Mass. During the Novenas, we had nine priests including Fr Franky Fernandes, Fr Jovito D’Costa, Fr Jovito D’Costa and Fr Agnelo Simoes, who celebrated the Masses for the devotees.”
During the Portuguese time, a captain boat would be taken into the sea at the entrance of the Mandovi River with the parish priest and the Confraria members. The parish priest would bless the sea with a sword and 21 cannons would be fired at the sea to mark that the sea is open for fishing. This whole area right from the Candolim junction to the hill was under the Portuguese and they did not allow anyone to walk in. Villagers were allowed to attend Mass and the Portuguese soldiers would also attend Mass with uniform and artillery. It is not feasible to go in a boat in the middle of the sea so the blessing takes place from the bandstand that faces the sea.
“The ceremony was earlier held with the golden sword cutting a rope, which was stretched between the church and Cabo Raj Niwas in Dona Paula, across the Mandovi and would signify the opening of the seas. There are many devotees who participate in the feast mass as St Lawrence is the patron of many professions including fisherfolk, those who work on ships and many who make vows to get their work done, or for a suitable spouse, a child and many more petitions,” says Fr Agnelo.
In Agasaim, the Feast will be celebrated at St Lawrence Church which was built in 1565 by the Jesuits on the hillock overlooking the village. Two Masses will be held today, 6.30 am and 8.30 am, both celebrated by Fr Antonio Albuquerque, parish priest of St Andrew Church, Goa Velha. Fr Francisco Xavier Pereira, parish priest of St Lawrence Church, Agasaim explains a beautiful tradition that is still followed by the villagers, “St Lawrence was known to help the poor and he said that the wealth of the church is the poor. During the Novena, on all nine days, the villagers contribute something that can be given to the poor. Items like rice, soaps, toothpaste etc is collected and on the day of the Vespers, at 11 am, the same is distributed among the needy in the village. This tradition has been followed for years. This feast is only dedicated to St Lawrence and the harvest festival will be celebrated on August 24 in the church.”
In the evening, the celebrations in the village will shift to Dugrem, Agasaim where the Young Stars of Dugrem will be celebrating their 50th cultural festival which is known for the famous All Goa Coconut Breaking contest. The evening will continue with a Konkani musical show