Fwd: Forced Exodus of GEM Diasporas

[John de Figueiredo]

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Begin forwarded message:

From: John de Figueiredo <john...@sbcglobal.net>
Date: December 9, 2023 at 5:56:51 PM EST
To: Gilbert Lawrence <gilbe...@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Forced Exodus of GEM Diasporas

In the minds and the hearts of many Goan Catholics Francisco Xavier was the Patron of Goa (or more specifically, of Goan Catholics), as the expression “Goincho Sahib” reflects. The campaign for the canonization of Jose’ Vaz was largely ran by the people of Sri Lanka, not Goa. Jose’ Vaz exercised his mission in Sri Lanka. He should have been the Patron of Sri Lanka. For some odd reason the Vatican decided to make Jose’ Vaz the Patron of Goa and Xavier the Patron of Asia. As far as I know, the Goans never protested against this odd decision. Let us hope that Pope Francis will correct this odd decision. 

Gonsalo Garcia was a “Luso-Descendente” (I.e., a descendant of Portuguese Europeans). He was born and raised in Bassein and became a Franciscan Lay Brother. He was martyred in Japan. 

John M. de Figueiredo 

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On Dec 9, 2023, at 10:04 AM, Gilbert Lawrence <gilbe...@yahoo.com> wrote:



Attached is this month's newsletter on issues affecting GEMs. The topic is:  "Forced Exodus of GEM Diasporas" causing a re-migration.

But first we wish you a belated happy feast of St. Francis Xavier, who is honored with the title of Goencho Sahib and the Patron Saint of Missionaries.  Contrary to what some may think, SFX is not the Patron Saint of Goa.  That title belongs to the native son, St. Joseph Vaz (feast day - January 16), who served as a priest in Goa, South Kanara and Ceylon.  The Patron Saint of the Archdioceses of Bombay, and Vasai is also a native son (born in the village of Agashi in Vasai), St. Gonsalo Garcia (feast day - February 5).

The focus of this month's presentation is an unpleasant and often overlooked topic of forced relocation of GEMs (Goans, East-Indians, Mangaloreans) diasporas.  There is much the emigre community can learn from those experiences; and perhaps be better prepared as individuals and as a community for such future eventualities.

We hope you enjoy reading this aspect of GEM history.  There is a lot of ‘food for thought.’ Please forward these articles to your relatives, friends, peers, Indian and Iberian chat sites. Sharing history is sharing our cultural heritage; and the work is for us, by us. Thank you for allowing us to share this with you.

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Successful New Year.  The works of art - painting, sculpture, writings (books) of GEMs would make excellent holiday gifts to your family, neighbors, and friends this season; and would encourage GEM artists in their endeavors and show your support to the community.  Please be safe! 

Philomena and Gilbert Lawrence,

Authors: Insights into Colonial Goa,

Published via Amazon in paperback and e-book.

For details about the book and authors see: Insights into Colonial Goa.

<Twice Migrated.docx>

[Frederick Noronha]

There is also a political side to such issues too, I guess...

The earlier patroness of Goa was Catherine of Alexandria. It was on her feast day that the Portuguese conquered Goa from the Adil Shahis in 1510. 

In the post-colonial times of the late twentieth century, this might not seem like a very apt choice, of course.

Joseph Vaz was named the patron of Goa (he was yet to become a saint then). Might make sense, apart from other factors, at least on grounds of ethnicity and political correctness. That was only in 1999.

Francis Xavier is widely respected through popular devotion -- even crossing the divides of religion. In recent times though, the rise of the hardline Religious Right in India has also meant that his legacy has been questioned and even sought to be delegitimised. Attempts by the State to ask for i-cards at this years SFX feast were questioned for the motives behind the same. 

FN

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[Eugene Correia]

Rightly, Jose (Joseph Vaz) was more to Sri Lanka then tio Goa. Thanks to the efforts of the California-based Philomena Geese (maybe spelling is wrong) that she secured the Vatican's ears in the cause of making Jose Vaz the Saint. Whatever factors matter in the naming of Saints as Patron of particular country or continent, the prerogative lies with the Vatican. 

For all that matters, Francis Xavier should have been named Apostle of Spain, as he was a Spainaird. As for Jose Vaz, he gave most of his life in the cause of spreading Christianity in Sri Lanka. In fact, some young Sri Lanka Christians were not aware of who Jose Vaz was when I met them, and I had to explain to them that he, like me, was a Goan. There's a seminary, I think, dedicated to Jose vaz in the hill station of Kandy. On my visit to Sri Lanka, I wanted to go there. But transport is a major problem in Sri Lanka.

What's surprising, however, is that no big efforts, at least I am not aware of it, are made in the name of Father Agnelo, though a full-fledged congregation exists in Goa, and its priests are spread din some parts of the world, as well in remote parts of India. Time now to make firm and determinate efforts, on the lines of those who advocated the cause of Jose Vaz to sainthood, to get the venerated Father a place in the galaxy of saints.

Eugene Correia

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[John de Figueiredo]

Politics should stay out of religion. Just because Xavier was born in Spain (I.e., from Spain) does not mean that he is the “Apostle of Spain”. Just because Jose’ Vaz was born in Goa (I.e., from  Goa) does not mean he is the “Patron of Goa”.

For Goan Catholics who are believers, all over the world, the Patron Saint of Goa will always be Francisco Xavier.

And the correct name is Jose’ Vaz, not Joseph Vaz Naik, a politicized name he never used.

John M. de Figueiredo 

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On Dec 10, 2023, at 2:17 PM, Eugene Correia <eugene....@gmail.com> wrote:



To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/goa-research-net/CAJhbo_5RjBbrrJfaaHQ53iGzL90_FdQ5yVcCUCpr%2BaX78pFQng%40mail.gmail.com.

[Eugene Correia]

Gonsalves Gracia was one of the martyrs I think there were 4) who were killed in Japan where they entered as missionaries.

If I remember there's a church dedicated to hom in Bassein. I read thus long time ago, as far as I remember hr was a native, not of mixed blood of Portuguese and local people. There is also a mistake of Portuguese terming them East Indians, as the place is in the west of  Bombay. 

Eugene Correia

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