BLESSING OF THE PIPE ORGAN IN THE RACHOL SEMINARY
The Archbishop blessed the refurbished pipe organ on the Seminary Choir Loft. The Seminary Pipe Organ is one of the 7 Pipe Organs that existed in Goa belonging to the late medieval era. Some are completely deteriorated.
The Seminary Pipe Organ was in working condition and was played during the Sunday liturgical ceremonies and other solemnities held in the Seminary. On special occasions, it is accompanied by Seminary String Ensemble together with the famous Santa Cecilia Choir (TTBB male choir) of the Seminary.
The Seminary Pipe Organ was manufactured in Germany by Gebrüder Link and the installation must have taken place between the years 1888 to 1904. Because of the weather conditions, the Pipe Organ required constant and continuous maintenance and repairs. However, a major restoration work was undertaken in 2019 by Mr. Fernando Fernandes, an electrical engineer by profession and a lover of music, together his daughter, Fara Fernandes, Fr. Mathew Rebello, professor of music in the Seminary, and carpenter, Damião D’Sa. Because of the delicate nature of the repairs and the restoration and combined with the Covid-19 lockdowns, the work progressed slowly but steadily under the meticulous and skilful expertise of Mr. Fernando Fernandes: the wooden frames had to be treated for termites, the hides of the bellows had to be replaced, the air-chambers had to be restored, the oxidized metal pipe had to be cleaned, repaired and tuned, etc. Finally, the Seminary Pipe Organ is able to breathe a new life.