Goa Archdiocese spirit remain undaunted despite fire, exposition to go on

Panaji, Nov. 11, 2004 – Goa is preparing for the decennial exposition of the relics of St. Xavier and the recent fire that broke out in the annex of Bom Jesus Basilica does not seem to have daunted the spirits of the parishioners.

The fire that broke out in the early morning of October 21, devastated part of the annex of the Basilica and destroyed several rare manuscripts, books, furniture and paintings. However, miraculously, the 18th–century coffin of Saint Francis Xavier was among the artifacts that remained safe.

The apparently accidental fire (some believe to have been caused by electrical short–circuit) came as a major setback for the Goa Archdiocese that is set to hold the decennial exposition of the Jesuit saint's remains in November. However, Church authorities assured that the burned annex would be "in working condition" by the middle of the month, well in time before the exposition.

Father Savio Barretto, rector of the Basilica, where Saint Xavier's remains are kept, said the first thing saved from the fire was the saint's coffin. Also saved were more than three dozen crosses, statues, reliquaries and other religious artifacts.

The Jesuits built the annex, known as “Casa Professa” in 1586. It has a private museum that houses valuable antiques including the coffin in which the saint's body was kept from at least 1744 until 1953. The body remained intact for centuries but has decayed. The Jesuits now refer to the remains, kept in a sealed glass case in a silver casket, as a relic.

The blaze gutted Casa Professa's roof and second floor, and parts of the first floor, which served as the administrative wing of the basilica.

Father Barretto explained that firemen and others showed extra care in moving the artifacts and the coffin to a safer place. He said the fire destroyed five paintings of the saint, and some clay and wooden statues.

The archbishop of Pamplona, Spain, requested the coffin in 1976. The archbishop is rector of Xavier Castle, where the saint was born. The then Archbishop of Goa agreed to hand over the coffin, but the Archaeological Survey of India intervened and objected. Under Indian law, moving archeological objects to another country requires the permission of the central government.

An official announcement of the cause of the fire is still pending, but Goa Director General of Police Amod Kant ruled out sabotage.

The state government of Goa has ordered a probe to determine the cause of the mishap. Investigations are still going on.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the media persons that the fire was a wake–up call to the government to assess security measures ahead of the exposition. The 16th solemn exposition is scheduled from Nov. 21, 2004, to Jan. 2, 2005.

Parrikar said the government has decided to make a security assessment of important monuments, temples, churches and heritage sites in the state.

Bom Jesus, listed by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as a World Heritage Monument, will be 400 years old in 2005.

Following the blaze, state authorities have taken additional precautions for the exposition site that include a ban on tents near the basilica. Parrikar said authorities also would strictly monitor parking and other arrangements.

Mr Parrikar said the government was ready to sanction financial assistance for repairs and rebuilding of the damaged portion. “The overall Exposition works are being monitored by the Exposition commissioner, Mr Bosco George,” he said.

At the time of fire, Church authorities were unwilling to quantify the extent of the damage but admitted that it was considerable.

According to Father Moreno D'Souza, a historian, Casa Professa was the first house the Jesuits built in Asia. It was erected less than 50 years after the Society of Jesus was founded.