By John Malvino Alfonso OCD –
Goa: Today (12th February), the Cloistered Carmel Chicalim, dedicated to the Holy Trinity celebrates 75 years of its foundation in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman. It is a power house of prayer in the Archdiocese. Many people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, call or visit them for a prayer request. Let’s take cursory glance over the historical aspects of its foundation, life inside the four walls of the monastery and their mission in the church.
Dom Teutonio de Castro, the then Patriarch of Goa, happened to visit the Cloistered Carmel at Bangalore (founded in 1932) and expressed his wish to have a similar Carmel in his Archdiocese. Fr. A. Le Tellier, an old, but dynamic Belgian Jesuit, also visited this Carmel and shared the same desire. Through his efforts in promoting vocation, there were five Goan novices in the Bangalore Carmel by the end of 1947.
Mr. J. B. Mascarenhas from Vaddem, Vasco, who was requested to continue the search, proposed a house in Chicalim, belonging to Mr. Joaquim Alvares and Mrs. Escolastica.
Mother Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity, a French nun, then Prioress of the Bangalore Carmel, was sent to Goa in view of a new foundation, at the formal request of the new Patriarch of Goa, Dom Jose Da Costa Nunes. On February 9, 1947, the first community of six nuns entered their new home at Chicalim, singing the “Laudate” (Praise the Lord) and “Gloria Patri” (Glory be) in thanksgiving to God.
Fr. Hyacinth OCD, from the Carmelite Monastery, Margao offered Mass for the first time on March 25, 1947 and installed the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel. On June 1, feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the temporary enclosure having being fixed, the parish priest, Fr. Joaquim Alvares, blessed the house in the presence of few villagers. For this reason, this Carmel is dedicated to the Most Blessed Trinity.
The permanent enclosure wall being fully constructed on December 18, 1948, the patriarch, Don Jose Costa Nunes in the presence of Carmelite friars, Jesuit priests, the parish priest and parishioners, defined the enclosure. The permanent chapel was fully completed only in 1965 and dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The daily Eucharist is the central act of the day for the cloistered nuns. This praise and thanksgiving is prolonged throughout the day, when the community comes together to pray the seven hours of the Divine Office. The Nuns spend two hours in mental prayer and there are times for personal spiritual reading. The nuns also have daily recreations and other community celebrations. The daily schedule includes community service like gardening and kitchen, and works for their livelihood like, baking of altar bread, embroidery, vestments etc.
Many nuns who have lived here, opted or were sent to help other Cloistered Carmels, for instance, Faro (Portugal), Mumbai, Baroda, Hassan, Raipur, Mysore, Delhi and Bunda (Tanzania). Some of them have returned to the father’s house.
At present, there are 15 sisters in the community, and they continue the great legacy of the saintly Carmelites who have gone ahead of them. Expressing his joy as the Provincial Superior of the Karnataka Goa province of the order of the Discalced Carmelites, Fr. George Santhumayor, said, “This Carmelite presence may be compared to the presence of Mother Mary among the apostles in the early Church. Mother Mary, apparently, did nothing: no administration, no ministry, no visible apostolic activity. Her contribution was Her presence; especially Her presence at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down on the apostles. But all the while Mary was engaged in an invisible apostolic activity pondering in Her heart on the wonders of the Incarnation of God.”
“The sisters in the Cloistered Carmel at Chicalim are doing what Mary did. We may never be able to fathom the fruits of their life dedicated to prayer and sacrifice, for the salvation of souls,” said Fr. Provincial Superior. Fr. George, on behalf of the Karnataka-Goa Province, thanked the Heavenly Father for their presence and for 75 years of abundant blessings on them and through them to the Church in Goa. He also prays that they get some good vocations to continue their mission.
“As we, the Cloistered Carmelite Sisters in Chicalim, reach a great milestone of 75 years of our presence in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, my heart overflows with love, praise and gratitude to the Almighty God for leading, guiding, providing and moving us according to his plan,” said Sr. Luiza, Prioress of the Cloistered Carmel Chicalim.
“We witness, especially during this time, the faith of the people irrespective of race, colour or religion, who call to us or visit us, requesting our prayers for their various needs,” the Prioress added. “If we have reached today to celebrate 75 years of our existence in Chicalim, it’s because God has sent countless earthly angels on our journey to support us spiritually and materially, thus helping us to live our life smoothly and fruitfully,” she said further.
“The Cloistered Carmel Convent is one of the treasures of our Archdiocese – a storehouse of spiritual power and an inspiring witness to the presence and action of God through prayer,” said Dr. Noemia Mascarenhas from Chicalim. Dr. Noemia Mascarenhas stays just two kms away from the convent. “It has been a refuge for many in spiritual need. In sharp contrast to the arid desert of contemporary culture with its increasingly selfish pursuit of wealth, pleasure and power, their life of loving self-gift, austerity and poverty is a life-giving oasis,” Dr. Noemia added. Expressing her gratitude towards the nuns, Dr. Mascarenhas said that they have been a precious gift to her since her childhood, and a few of them who became her close friends had a great influence in her life.
“I consider my call to Carmel is nothing but God’s gratuitous gift of love,” said Sr. Theresita, Novice Mistress at the Cloistered Carmel. Speaking on the life of a Cloistered nun, Sr. Theresita, who completed 30 years of religious life, said, “We are called as Contemplatives in the Church. We are invited to ponder on the Word of God like Mary, and live a hidden life but centered on Christ seeking God in our entire life.”
May the Almighty God, enkindle in many young hearts to follow him in contemplative life.
(The author is a member of the Karnataka-Goa province of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, based at the Carmelite Monastery, Margao)