Bishop Simião Blesses Renovated Chapel in Goa, Calls Faithful to Centre Their Lives on the Eucharist

Goa, Dec 5, 2025: The renovated Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Xellim, Goa, affiliated to St. Sebastian Church, Loliem, was blessed by Bishop Simião Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, during a solemn Eucharistic celebration on Friday, 5th December, during which the Rite of Blessing of the oratory was carried out. The extended portion of the Chapel was constituted into a sacred place by the Decree CP-Decr/223/2025, dated 4 December 2025, of His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman and Patriarch of the East Indies.

Presiding over the Mass and delivering the homily, Bishop Simião invited the faithful to live in communion by strengthening their relationship with God, noting that the renovated chapel stands as a sign of communion and offers an opportunity for the faithful to deepen their faith.

The Prelate recalled how Jesus held the Temple in high regard, desiring that its sanctity be preserved. Stressing the sacredness of the place of worship, he affirmed that the chapel is a space where believers grow in holiness as the Word of God is proclaimed and the Eucharist is celebrated.

Highlighting the importance of Scripture, Bishop Simião noted that the Word of God renews life, and he urged the faithful to read and reflect on it regularly. He further encouraged the congregation to make the Holy Eucharist the centre of their lives. Bishop appreciated the tireless wok of Chaplain, Carmelite Community and the parishioners to renovate this chapel and congratulated them.

The Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Patrick Luis SFX, Dean of the Canacona Deanery; Fr. Silvestre D’Souza OCD, Provincial Superior of the Karnataka-Goa Province of the Carmelites; Fr. Rui Pereira CSC, Parish Priest of St. Sebastian Church, Loliem; Fr. Theodozio Fernandes OCD, Chaplain of the Chapel; Fr. Rovel D’Souza OCD, Superior of Divine Springs Retreat Centre, Xellim, along with several priests.

Those who contributed significantly to the renovation works were felicitated by Bishop Fernandes. The parishioners of the Chapel also felicitated Bishop Simião Fernandes on the occasion of his first visit to them after his Episcopal Ordination.

Fr. Theodozio Fernandes OCD thanked the benefactors and collaborators for their support toward the renovation and blessing, while Fr. Silvestre D’Souza OCD expressed his gratitude to Bishop Simião Fernandes and acknowledged the parishioners’ contribution to the renovation work.

The renovated Chapel features wooden doors adorned with religious engravings: the central door bears the image of Our Lady of Fatima, Patroness of the Chapel, while the side doors depict St. Joseph Vaz, Patron of the Archdiocese, and St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the Carmelite saint whose canonization centenary is being observed this year.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD