ERECTION OF THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF ROSARY , DAVORLIM
FROM CROSS TO A CHAPLE TO A CHURCH
In the era of 18th century the villagers of Davorlim was an agrarian community indulge in Paddy and cash crop cultivation. They came together in this open space for thrashing and winnowing their paddy. We can call this a Somudai of people coming together as a family. As the paddy got dried the people used to sit and discuss about their culture, their beliefs and religion.
Amidst this they built a cross as a protector in a lonely place which had no much habitant around. As the legend goes, the villagers found a statue of OUR LADY OF ROSARY in the ruins of an abandoned house in the vicinity of the cross so the villagers got the statue near the cross and build a small shade as a shelter.
In 1960, the first chapel of Our Lady Of Rosary was build, inaugurated and blessed by Archbishop Jose Viera Alvernaz and was declared chapel, a part of Navelim Parish.
As the villagers were from the daily waged working community, Most of their time was spent far from home. In this journey the villagers started building up their faith around the chapel by forming associations like Catechist, Legion of Mary. These associations helped the people to participate in the religious ceremonies in a better way.
In year 2000 the old chapel was demolished to make way for a bigger one keeping in mind the growing population and making it a CHURCH. This chapel was inaugurated in the year 2007 in the hands of Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and Late Rev. Fr. Protacio Soares Moraes was given the charge of the chapel to cater the religious need of the people. In his tenure the villagers made way for the Fatima Sisters to build the community
In the year 2016, Rev. Fr. Domingos Noronha was appointed as a Chaplain. In his tenure the school of Our Lady of Rosary was established to inculcate the educational benefits to our villagers.
8th of October 2022 is an auspicious day for the chapel as His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao raised it to a status of a church and declared as a separate parish. The church administrative Committee is known as ‘Trust of Our Lady Of Rosary, Davorlim’. Hence Rev Fr. Domingos Noronha was appointed as first Parish Priest.
Around 2000 people gathered to witness the ceremony of erection with great joy and enthusiasm. To celebrate this day every parishioner has worked hard to build spiritual life, to decorate the surrounding and getting converted into a parish full of new responsibilities. Thus “you Are Peter and on this Rock I will build my church” was rightly fulfilled.