In August, members of Mobai Gaothan Panchayat (MGP) passed around a collection box during a Mount Mary Gaothan visit called the Mot Mauli Gaothan Yatra. They surmised that the congregation of various gaothans, would be an ideal place to advertise their initiative of building a chapel dedicated to Saint Gonsalo Garcia (1557-1597), the first Indian Roman Catholic saint. "We thought we'd be able to raise Rs 20,000 or thereabouts," says Gleason Barretto, founder trustee. "We ended up collecting Rs 93,540."

The Nagasaki connect

The idea of raising funds was incidental to a land deal in Manori village that was finalised just a week earlier. A 50 sqm plot that belonged to an East Indian family of late Peter and Beatrice D'souza landed with the MGP as a donation. "The collection box was a good way to test waters; to see if the community was ready to pool in," says Barretto. The money will now be channelled into managing the initial expenses in the first phase plan of the chapel project. This will include the construction of the entrance gate, compound wall and debris for levelling the ground.

Garcia's mother hailed from Vasai (then called Bassein) and that time they were called Portuguese Christians. He was trained by Jesuit priests at the college near the fort," Barretto says. MGP Mahasarpanch Alphi D'souza adds: "What makes him relatable, is that besides being a preacher, Garcia was also a native. "He was one of us."