NT NETWORK
CURCHOREM
A section of parishioners of Holy Cross church in Quepem are of the opinion that the church could be expanded without disturbing its uniqueness.
Presently, the parishioners are divided over the proposed new church building at Quepem.
The matter of conversion of land where the Quepem church is standing is pending before the Collector. Besides, a civil suit about the church land is also pending before the district court, Margao.
Some parishioners feel that there is unnecessary hurry to construct a new church building when the matter is sub- judice.
Some parishioners opined that they are in favour of extension of the church without disturbing its uniqueness. But construction of a new church building adjacent to the existing one is not viable, they said.
“Presently, it has become difficult to carry on the maintenance of the existing church. From where the huge amount of money will come for the construction of new church building,” they asked.
If at all the new church building is constructed, the main question will be of parking. The precincts of the church are being used by some persons to paste defamatory leaflets which should not have been allowed, they said.
Now, the matter has gone to Deputy Collector of Quepem who recently convened a meeting by issuing notices through Quepem police to parish priest, both the warring groups of parishioners, DySP Quepem and mamlatdar.
In a written reply to the notice of Deputy Collector, Josinho Colaco, on behalf of the parishioners, has stated that the Quepem Holy Cross church was built in the year 1825 by the Deao family and who had also granted a piece of land of 3689 square metre for commercial purpose for raising income to the church. How, this land can be used for construction of second church, he asked.
Secondly, the same family had granted Rs 10 lakh for the reconstruction of the existing church on the existing site only, Colaco said.
The meeting, which was held in the court room of the Deputy Collector, Quepem, recently, will be convened again to resolve the issue.