St Simon & St Jude Chapel (Ganxim Batim Goa India) Famous For Marian Apparition

This chapel is famous for the Marian apparitions which is taking place here begining in 1994 to the seer 'Yvetta Gomes'. The Chapel of St. Simon and St. Jude, Ganxim, Batim was constructed by the Augustinian Archbishop D. Frei Aleixo de Menezes between 1596-1610. The infamous plague that hit Old Goa, then, also reached this Parish. The villagers fled helter and skelter. Later Fr. Pedro Francisco Pereira, plunged into the great renovation work of the Church, then, with financial help of the locals and the Holy See. He was helped by Fr. Inaciao Mariano do Rosario of Pilar. After completion of the restoration work, Holy Mass was celebrated on June3, 1973. Since 1994, devotees do the First Saturday devotion with acts of reparation and offerings of prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Being co-redemptors in the Mystical Body of Christ, having to "fill up those things that are wanting of the suffering of Christ, for His body the Church" (Col 1:24), such reparation offered vicariously by the living members of the Church on behalf of sinners. The Parish Priest, then, Fr. Ernesto Herculano Socorro Pereira had obtained the Archbishop's permission for celebration of Holy Mass in 1996-97. Subsequently, he had obtained Aux. Bishop's permission for opening the well in 1998. Holy Mass is being celebrated on the 1st Saturdays. Also feasts, preceded by Novenas of Our Lady of Gloria and St. Simon and St. Jude, besides 13 May and 13 Oct. The 1st Sat services start at 12:40pm with Stations of the Cross at the foot of the Hill. After reaching up the Hill, Rosaries and prayers are recited. There is exposition of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Holy Mass at 3:30pm. Priests are usually available for confession. Special buses come from Mapusa, Margao, Calangute and Panaji. The visible sign can be seen in the devotees as rich and lasting spiritual fruits which is the central theme: inner-conversion through the spirit of prayer, return back to the Church, sacraments, penance, reparation, works of charity, etc Source: http://ourladybatim.blogspot.in/p/bac... http://ourladybatim.blogspot.in