Fr. Desmond de Sousa CSsR ( April 22) asks : '' Was colonization in Goa by the Portuguese ( 1510 - 1961 ) an asset or a liability for the Church in Goa ?
For the last fifty years, the liberated ( from confrarias ) Church in Goa has rendered wonderful service to the Catholic community by providing ( albeit with Government funds ) primary cum secondary schools in each village . Churches today are overflowing with parishioners every Sunday morning not to mention generous collections. The colonial Church, run by Portuguese for four and half centuries , did not even bother to bring literacy to the Catholic masses.Though they had parochial school in 3Rs i.e. Reading, writing and arithmetic , the students were always sons of upper caste confraria members. It is no wonder there is a saying in Konkani among the Catholics which run as follows:- ''' Padri-cho sermao-uch aikon tum munis zaumcho na , escola-che bankar-ui bosonk zai.'''