HOLY MASS AT A HISTORIC SITE
On 12th of December 1750, the Archbishop of Goa, a Franciscan, Dom Lourenço de Santa Maria, approved the Statutes of the Carmelite Tertiaries of Chimbel. This is the first indigenous Carmelite Congregation in Asia. To mark the 270th anniversary of this event, Holy Mass was celebrated at the ruins, in front of the façade of the historic Church and monastery where the holy and zealous religious lived till 1835. From there they went as pastors and missionaries to various parts of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.

On 12th of December 2020, the State Government of Goa notified the Church and Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Nossa Senhora do Carmo) at Chimbel (within the parish of Ribandar), as a heritage site. The Conservation Committee, comprising locals from the village, who made this petition and pursued the matter for years, participated in the Eucharistic celebration. The Carmelite Friars from Margao monastery and Fr. Eusico Pereira, a native of the village (presently, Parish Priest at São José de Areal) led the liturgical service. The local MLA, Mr. Tony Fernandes was also present and spoke at the end of the celebration, assuring all support from the government to preserve this site. We are grateful to the local Panchayat which helped us to organize this event.