Don't miss this operetta on St Francis Xavier in Goa

As the decennial exposition of Goa’s Goencho Saib approaches, beginning November 21, 2024 to January 5, 2025, the Committee for the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier has in store for the faithful an operetta on the life and mission of the saint called Porgottnnar.

Of course, most Goans are already acquainted with the life and works of the saint. But a musical and theatrical presentation, reviving those aspects of St Francis Xavier’s life in our memories would only serve to bolster the faith of the Catholic laity.

The operetta Porgottnnar was conceptualised by Fr Simon D’Cunha who has also been involved with the music and orchestration. Fr Luis Gomes has written the script while the direction is by Agnelo Borim. The choreography is by Cecille Rodrigues.

The mammoth theatrical production has 77 artists, 30 musicians, 23 singers and 50 dancers. The first show of Porgottnnar will be staged on November 10, 2024, at the Mother of God Church in Majorda.

Fr Simon D’Cunha, who is the mastermind behind the entire enterprise, informs us that he started producing operettas as a seminarian. Later when he was appointed professor of music and prefect at Rachol Seminary, he conducted many sacred music concerts there.

For Seminary Day, as well, Fr Simon D’Cunha was instrumental in setting the music for the operetta to be performed and would conduct it too.

Fr Simon D’Cunha says, “I had one wish – to do something big. When Fr Henry Falcao, Convenor of the Exposition, approached me to do something to highlight the exposition, I put forth my idea, which he agreed to.”

The operetta gives a brief overview of the Basque saint’s life for reasons of brevity. As Fr Simon D’Cunha says, “You cannot portray his whole life in short time. We have just highlighted his birth, talent, conversion, missionary life and death. Most of our people already know about him. This is meant to be an awakening.”

The concept of the operetta began to be developed at least 9 months ago. Fr Simon D’Cunha says, “Then I put my idea before Fr Jovial and Fr Dyrel, because I knew of their wonderful talent in preparing stage sets.”

Fr Simon had known them since they had been seminarians when he was a professor at Rachol Seminary. “They used to prepare sets for seminary operettas. I explained what I wanted, and they agreed to do it,” says Fr Simon D’Cunha.

Fr Simon then approached Fr Dr Luis Gomes, his batchmate from seminary and professor at St Xavier's College, Mapusa, to write the script.

“Fr Jovial, Fr Dyrel and I had many meetings at St Xavier's College to discuss the script, which was ready by April. Then I started composing the music, which was ready by the end of July. We began rehearsing in the month of September,” explains Fr Simon.

When asked about the impact of the operetta, Fr Simon says, “The life of St Francis will surely help us to grow in faith.”