Panaji: At the scenic Divar hilltop, the islanders had a soulful experience, as a rendition of the Lord’s prayer composed in Sinhala language and set to music by Divar priest Fr Jacome Gonsalves in the 17th century, resounded in the church.It was an uncommon experience for them and others—waiting half in wonder and expectancy—when visiting Lankan bishops, Joseph Vianney Fernando and Devasritha Valence Mendis did what hardly any patriarchs do.Mendis, the present bishop of Candy, alighted from the altar at Our Lady of Piety Church after the Mass and crossed the aisle over to the choir, as bishop emeritus, Fernando prepared to render “Our Father” lyricised by Gonsalves.Though the islanders didn’t understand the island nation’s language, they found Fernando’s singing deeply prayerful. “It was an uplifting experience and drew everyone into a moment of quiet communion with God,” Fr Leslie Gomes, assistant parish priest said.While Mendis played the keyboard, the former Candy bishop for nearly four decades showed no signs of his age. “The prayer flowed with beauty and reverence, showing his (Gonsalves’) deep understanding of the language and the people he served,” Gomes said.Another parishioner, Freddy Ferrao said that it was not a hymn like others. “In an age when music must have been in infancy, a composition like this shows that Gonsalves was ahead of his times,” he said.A little earlier, both bishops on a pilgrimage celebrated the Eucharistic service at the Church with Fr Eremito Rebello, former vice-postulator for the cause of canonisation of St Joseph Vaz.Gonsalves who is often referred to as the ‘Father of Catholic Literature’ in Sri Lanka assisted St Joseph Vaz in reviving the Catholic faith on the island as a missionary of Congregation of Oratory of the Holy Miraculous Cross.During his 37 years of missionary work, the holy priest who died in 1714 wrote 22 books in Sinhala, 15 in Tamil, four in Portuguese and one in Dutch as an expert in several languages. “His lyrics and the music set by Gonsalves to render ‘Our Father’ has never been matched for 300 years,” Fernando said.The music spoke to the heart, Gomes said. “The melody lifted hearts beyond language and made the prayer truly meaningful, reminding us that sacred music can unite souls and lead them to God,” he said.Briefing islanders about the canonisation process of Gonsalves, bishop Mendis said the preliminary process has started. “A lay person in Bolawatte (Gonsalves tomb is here), Sister Helena is also awaiting sainthood and has been declared Servant of God,” he said.He assured that the Divar priest’s process will also be pursued.
