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| Our Lady of Rosary church, Davorlim, Goa. |
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| Boscoites in bereavement. |
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| Beads of the rosary. |
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| Hitting a chai in a Goan posro. |
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| Verdant fields stretch into the hills. |
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| Sundowners at Porvorim. |
-Brian Mendonca
Though the occasion was solemn, we saw the opportunity to meet after a long time. The funeral of Boris's brother Gavin was at 4 p.m. All of us reached Davorlim for the last farewell.
The church looked beautiful with its modern architecture. Only last year was it raised by Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrao to be a church. It becomes the 174th parish in the Archdiocese of Goa.
Earlier there was only a cross in the fields. A structure was built in 1960. In 2000 it was demolished to make it bigger. It was rebuilt in 2017 and served as a chapel attached to Navelim parish.
The choir soulfully sang 'Nearer My God to Thee' as the entrance hymn. International seafarers day was just over on 25th June. Behind the cemetery, workers were busy in the fields sowing seeds after the first rains which were delayed this year.
Boris was happy to see his buddies. Cajetan hired a car from Merces to be present. I got there after work at Nuvem. Lyon and Peter came from Siolim in North Goa, picking up Francis from Taleigao on the way. Gabriel closed his shop at Raia, picked up Russell from Margao and got in early.
Most of us had been boarders together in Don Bosco high school, Matunga, Mumbai till we passed out after our SSC exams in 1981 or thereabouts. Anthony searched for us across the globe and added us on a WhatsApp group.
After the burial was over we headed for tea. It appears that the joint has been strategically placed opposite the church as a watering hole for the laity. There was a lot of catching up to be done. The vadas, the mirchi, and the kanda bhaji helped.
We then went our separate ways. However, the moment I got home I wondered where the boys from Siolim were. When Francis said they were at GMC, I asked whether they could pop in to my place which is on their way home.
They graciously agreed. We had our sundowners and continued the conversation. The distance from Davorlim to Porvorim is almost 50 kms. Peter and co. had 18 more to do to reach Siolim.
The day ended with words of the Roman poet Horace on our lips:
Nunc vinho pelite curas
Cras ingens iteribemus aquar.
Now friends, drink we all, wine
For tomorrow we sail once more on the boundless sea.
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In pix are Boris, Peter, Gabriel, Lyon, Francis, Russell, Brian and others. Pic courtesy Brian Mendonca for pix 1,3, 4 & 5; pic 2 by Francis Socorro. All pix taken on 26th June 2023. Updated 28/6/23.
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