NT NETWORK
PANAJI: The blessing of the renovated Chapel of Our lady of Merces, situated in Vaddem, Vasco da Gama, was done by most Rev Alwyn Barreto, Bishop of Sindhudurg on April 25 at 5:30 p.m.

A solemn mass was celebrated by the Bishop, with Vasco parish priest, Fr Antonio da Costa and Siolim parish priest, Fr Britto Furtado as co-celebrants. A number of priests including Fr Santan Faleiro, Fr Michael Fernandes, Fr Andrew Pereira, and other priests were also present.
The Bishop in his homily stressed the need to preserve and maintain these houses of worship which have been painstakingly built and requested the parishoners to take all the steps necessary for the upkeep of this house of prayer. He appreciated the good job done by the committees of the Chapel and congratulated the parishioners.
Mr Rosario Pereira, president of the Confraria, thanked the Bishop and other priests and the dignitaries present. He appreciated and thanked the engineer and the contractor and the interior decorators who worked hard to maintain and redo the age-old interiors of this beautiful chapel.
Later the renovated chapel was inaugurated by the Bishop. A large number of people participated in this ceremony which also included dignitaries like Revenue Minister and Vasco MLA, Mr Jose Philip D'Souza, chairperson of Vasco PDA, Ms Victoria Fernandes, ex-MMC chairperson, councillor, Mr Carlos Almeida, councillor, Mr Kritesh Gaonkar, Amilcar Alvares, and engineer Ernesto Moniz.