Traditional pomp marks Feast of St Thomas in Aldona

Evelyn Siqueira

DROP A PIN

Situated roughly 8 km from Mapusa, in North Goa, is the St Thomas Church, in Aldona, also known as Sao Tome Igreja em Aldona in Portuguese.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | altar | Photo: Mathson Miranda

RIVER VIEW

The church was built in 1596 on the banks of the Mapusa river, a tributary of the River Mandovi.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | stthomaschurchaldona.com/

PATRON OF THE CHURCH

The patron of the church is St Thomas the Apostle, while the Feast of St Thomas is celebrated annually on the third Saturday after Easter. This year, the feast was celebrated with traditional pomp on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | Photo: Mathson Miranda

THE BIG DAY

The main celebrant was professor of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, Fr Agnelo Pinheiro; while the co-celebrant was the parish priest of Aldona, Fr Thomas Lobo.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | priests

HAPPY FEAST

The feast mass was well attended by parishioners and people from surrounding villages.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | congregation | Photo: Mathson Miranda

FESTIVE FINESSE

Several young children from the parish, attired in blue and white, looked angelic during the high mass.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | children | Photo: Mathson Miranda

MUSIC TO THE EARS

The choir and the young musicians performed traditional hymns beautifully during the festive mass.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | music | choir | Photo: Mathson Miranda

TOP BRASS

A brass band played the alvorada, traditional festive tunes, which are an inseparable element of Goa’s church feasts, and can be heard during most village feasts even today.

Aldona church | St Thomas Feast | Goa | 2024 | alvorada | brass band

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