The Santo Estevam Blog

by Jaime Afonso From the 2006 Souvenir of St. Estevam Sports Club Late Prof. Luis Manuel Afonso wrote an article in the second last edition of this souvenir wherein he had given us glimpses of the earliest developments of our village to the present facade of our church and mentuioning about priestly ordination of his brother Late Fr. Antonio. He is no more among us as this edition unfolds today. He left for his heavenly abode on 4th April 2006. May his soul rest in peace. L. M. Afonso as he was popularly known among the teaching fraternity, obtained his educational degrees from the University of Bombay and served in Mumbai for some time before coming to Goa soon after liberation for which he had made his personal contribution and was later recognised as freedom fighter by the State and Central Governments. An honour to the village indeed! In Goa, he was first appointed as professor of English language in the prestigious Portuguese medium Liçeu Nacional de Afonso de Albuquerque, a leaga...

By Jose Lucas Mattos (From St. Estevam Firgojechi Zap, February 2010 issue) This year (1759-2009) we Zunvenkars got together to celebrate 250 years of our structural church. If we go back to the history of our faith, it is not of suit, boot and glamour of today, but our faith is of our poor "fottekars" who were ready to mortgage their lone possession "fottem" to build this magnificent architectural grandeur. As we see it today, it is not only the faith but a strong commitment and hard work which we inherited and flourished throughout the world. Under the spiritual guidance of our Parish Priest Fr. Olavo D'Souza, our village grandson, and Fr. Alexandre Fernandes, our assistant to the Parish Priest, we began this year's celebrations with a spiritual renewal of heart and mind and family life too. As the saying goes, "The family that prays together stays together" we began a five-day family mission conducted by Fr. Kenneth Telles of the Diocesan ...

Jackson Dias, St. Estevam (Letter to the editor, O Heraldo dated 15th May 2006) Having criticized the Christians before, the author Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code), now advises all believers to read the Holy Bible, as if they do not know the world of God.  I would like to know what pleasure the man derives by hurting the religious feelings of the most peace loving citizens of the world.  He talks about splinter groups in the Christian Church.  He talks of discrepancies in the  Bible, which are caused by Anti Christ like himself. The original book is pure, chaste and sublime.  Dan Brown cannot make the slightest dent in the teachings of the Lord.  When Christ founded his religion, he said to his disciple “Simon Peter, Thou art a rock, and upon this rock I will build my church and not even the gates of hell shall prevail against it”.  And he went to add, “Heaven and  Earth may pass away, but my Word will not pass away”. And so, the Churc...

- Late Justice Remedios; First Goan Chief Justice of Goa. - Late General Medico Minguel Caetano Dias. - Late Lt. Col. Fr. Vitor Dias. - Late Dr. Alvaro Dias; Chief Justice of Goa. - Late Rev. Fr. Leandro da Rosa; Bacharel em Sagrada Teologia. - Angelo Fonseca, exponent Indo Christian Art (acclaimed artist and painter). - Late Dr. Estevam Afonso; Founder Director of Vaccine Institute, Goa. - Late Fr. Crescencio Monteiro; Professor of Rachol & Saligao Seminary and Konkani scholar. - Late Major Vincente Joao de Santana Dias. - Late Jose Ladislau Saldanha; freedom fighter and Tamrapatra awardee. - Late Canon Angelo D’Costa; Professor at Rachol Seminary. - Late Professor Dr. Bailon D’sa; Chief of UNESCO Project entrusted with the founding and manning of new University in the Ivory Coast and Ghana. - Late Dr.Olivinho Gomes; Konkani scholar and Head of Konkani Dept., Goa University. - Victor Magalhaes;freedom fighter and Principal, Govt. College, Canacona. - C...

Emidio F. Monteiro President of Carnival Committee (2003) - His message in the SECASA 2003 bulletin - All "Honrad Zunvenkars", specially as cultivators of our popular "Bhenddes". When a group of us decided to participate in the Traditional category of the Carnival Parade in differnt towns of Goa, in spite of opposition and criticism form disgruntled elements, we opted for the concept of vegetation with "Bhenddes" as prime product and the slogan "Be Vegetarian For Healthy Living" which ultimately conquered the cities of Panjim, Mapuca and Vasco and we deservingly got the 1st prize, while in Margao we had to be content with the 2nd prize. The large number of participants in ur floats which constituted an impressive number of females, and the original music, is something for all of us to remember for years. All this was possible due to the generous donations from all our villagers. The historic achievement has proved beyond doubt that we Zunvenkar c...

By Late Prof. L. M. Afonso Amidst the picturesque islands of Goa surrounded by the magnificent and placid waters of the River Mandovi one comes across a colourful island with a colourful history. The isle of Jua today glories in the memories of old kingdoms and mighty kings. The story goes back to the sixth century when it was known to the people around Konkan desh as “Shakecho Jumvo”. This green jewel originally consisted of three small islets viz Jua, Tolto and Vantso with a canal connecting them. It has been observed thanks to the silt deposits of the River Mandovi, that these small islets have been joined together into one island - that of Santo Estevam which has expanded rapidly, especially since the Second World War. Around the hill on which stands the imposing statue of Christ The King is a vast expanse of rice fields and in the distance rise small hillocks and dunes covered with forests, which are fast vanishing. Relieving the monotony of the scene there are lines of tr...

Manddo composed by Jackson Dias -I- Mudans korunk kednaim tunvem Goeam ieunk zai Zunveam oslo gaum tuka meuncho nam go bai Pordesant ami astanam, ugddas tuzo ietanam, Poddta amka tujim sopnam.   Ch: Ubo raulear dongrar, Nodor marlear ganvar, Polounk to srungar Mhonntat amkam bhenddekar, Purvoz amche varvemkar HONRAD AMI ZUNVENKAR   -II- Amchea Zunvear lhan vodd asa sobit tim ghoram Picavoll zaiti hanga khuxal tim poram, Sobit igroz kopelam xetamni rongoilam, Doria deger nettoilam   -III- Voddvik tuji sogleamkuch naum tin letramchem Lhan-tiko mapar tum istimossamchem Bhangar tum putamchem, Douloth tum dhuvamchem, Sobit JUA naum tujem.