News and Pics:Allen Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network - Mozambique (SP)

Mozambique, Sep 19: The dream project of reconstructing Holy Cross Community Church at Maputo, Mozambique, could be completed by collecting about US$ 1,50,000 in cash and kind, within a period of 363 days! MCCP Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, too contributed to the project. The church had completed 100 years of existence as on July 26 this year. Before the completion of reconstruction, a celebration had been held there.

The reconstructed church was inaugurated by Fr Fransico Chimoio OFM, archbishop of Maputo, in the presence of two other retired Bishops and Cardinal. President of the Holy Cross Church Council, Allen Fernandes, delivered the inaugural address.

The holy mass was concelebrated by two Bishops and nine priests along with the Archbishop. Out of the nine priests, one, Allen Fernandes, was from Mangalore, and another from Goa, while all the others were from Kerala. The mass  was held in both Portuguese and English languages. Hymns were sung in 12 languages that included English, French, Portuguese, Hindi, Konkani, Swahili, Latin, Changana, Kenyan, Ugandan languages, Taglong - the Pilipino language and Nigerian language.

Maputo has about ten Mangalorean families, while there is a considerable presence of Goan population. The Holy Cross Church community comprises of faithful from USA, Australia, Philippines, India, Europe and Africa, the Africans being the prdominant community. All of them are expatriates. The church had been abandoned during the civil war and was rehabilitated by the local community.