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STATE TO BEAR PAINTING COST OF SALIGAO CHURCH. Illumination of churches and temples at the cost of the exchequer is nothing new. But now a new precedent has been set by the government to undertake painting of a church. The church to get a new coat of white-wash is Mae de Deus Church in Saligao. Incidentally, it was the first church in Goa to get illuminated at government expense. The Church was illuminated at the initiative of the then tourism minister and Saligao MLA Dr. Wilfred de Souza under a central government scheme. The trend for illumination of churches and temples was started during the Congress regime more than ten years ago. Now, the BJP government has gone a step further to take care of painting of mae de Deus Church. The decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting recently. Sources told HERALD that the Manohar Parrikar headed cabinet approved the decision " as an exceptional case." It couldn’t be known whether any request was made to the government by the church authorities or by any politician.( Courtesy Herald, Tuesday, November 16, 2004, p. 3). The Church Bulletin,Saligao, of this month of November says that there is going to be a fete for three days, 24th, 25th and 26th November in the Church Compound and in the Parish Pastoral Council which was held in October, during the session, Ms Claudelle, the secretaryof the Parish Animation team gave a brief outline of the entire programme of the parish Fete ... and said that the proceeds could be utilized for the painting of the church. |
