Media Release

Rachol, Dec 20: The 60th anniversary celebration of the 'Gaionancho Jhelo' — the garland of hymns­ ushers in a remarkable milestone. This hymn book, a cherished creation of the archdiocese of Goa and Daman in India, embodies a collection of hymns meticulously curated for eucharistic celebrations and various liturgical purposes. Gaionancho Jhelo which also includes the order of the Mass, transcends being a mere assortment of songs, it stands as a rich reservoir of theology and spirituality. Its hymns lyrics draw from the deep wells of scriptures, tradition, the magisterium, and the Church's liturgy, embodying profound spiritual essence and wisdom.    

Commemorating its diamond jubilee, the event was joyously hosted at the patriarchal seminary of Rachol, Goa, by the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, and the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. Fr Lino De Sa, an eminent musician, Konkani poet and parish priest of Our Lady of Candelaria Church, Camurlim (Salcete) was the chief guest while Fr Peter Cardozo Sfx, Fr Bernado Cota, Fatima Cabral e Cota and Jerome Rodrigues were the guests of honour.

Speaking on the occasion Fr Lino De Sa, who wrote 58 hymns to the hymn book, fondly revisited the remarkable impact of Jesuit Priest Fr Vasco Do Rego on Gaionancho Jhelo, celebrating its enduring legacy as the garland of hymns that has gracefully traversed a 60-year journey. He beautifully articulated the essence of hymns as heartfelt invocations to the divine, likening them to a human's breath reaching out to God. In his words, crafting a hymn is akin to nurturing a bare essence, requiring the adornment of music as clothing to elevate its essence.

Acknowledging the collective efforts of choir groups across deaneries and parishes in singing these hymns for this celebration, Fr Lino emphasized the unity of lyrics and music in prayer, underscoring the importance of their harmonious convergence. He also paid tribute to the unsung heroes — the anonymous composers and musicians whose contributions date back centuries before the birth of Gaionancho Jhelo, with their creations still resonating in traditional hymns dedicated to patron saints.

Fr Lino's gratitude extended to the celebration's organizers, recognizing their initiative in honouring 60 years of Gaionancho Jhelo at the patriarchal seminary of Rachol, a place that holds historical significance as the birthplace of the first Konkani carol, Visvasacho Dis (Day of hope) by Fr Vasco Do Rego SJ.

Fr Donato Rodrigues, rector of the patriarchal seminary of Rachol, welcomed the gathering. Hymns from Gaionancho Jhelo were presented by Cantate de Domino, a group from Pernem deanery led by Fr Rolland Lin Fernandes and conducted by Fr Avinash Mascarenhas SAC, Santa Cecilia Choir of the patriarchal seminary of Rachol conducted by Fr Mathew Rebello, Laudat, a group from Canacona deanery, conducted by Fr Newton Fernandes, ChorusAngelorum from Chinchinnim deanery led by Fr Mansueto Fernandes, conducted by Melcher Pinto, choir group led by Preethi Coutinho, Savourites of Loutolim, conducted by Seby Fernandes, and choir group -Vakhann’nni, conducted by Fr Simon D’Cunha .

Seminarians Dion Rodrigues and Aestrony Costa skillfully compered the programme. Fr Afonso Mendonca, the director of the Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, extended gratitude with a vote of thanks.

“Gaionancho Jhelo is more than just a hymn book, it embodies the essence of its visionary creator, Fr Vasco do Rego,” said Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, secretary to Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão. According to Fr Joaquim Loiola, a composer of nearly 30 hymns within the Gaionancho Jhelo, this book transcends its physical form. "Gaionancho Jhelo is a testament to the multifaceted genius of Fr Vasco do Rego," remarked Fr Pereira. "As a theologian, spiritual guide, Konkanist, poet, and music composer, he poured his diverse identities into crafting this compendium of hymns. His contribution—comprising two-thirds of the hymns transforms this book into a treasury echoing the teachings of the Bible and Church documents. It serves as a guide for spiritual growth and Christian virtues," he added, underscoring the exceptional nature of this hymn book.

Indeed, Gaionancho Jhelo stands apart, not merely as a collection of hymns but as a profound reservoir of spiritual guidance a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship and devotion of its creator, Fr Vasco do Rego.

Fr Simon D’Cunha, president of the Diocesan Commission for Sacred Music, expressed deep appreciation for Gaionancho Jhelo, highlighting its profound significance within the Church of Goa. He conveyed heartfelt gratitude to all contributors and paid homage to those who have passed away.

Fr Afonso Mendonca, director of the Archdiocesan Diocesan Centre for Liturgy, expressing his joy over 60 years of Gaionancho Jhelo in an editorial for Amcho Sevadhorm, the Archdiocesan Konkani quarterly of homiletical and liturgical review, emphasized how the hymns within this collection serve as valuable tools, teaching theology to the faithful and aligning perfectly with various liturgical, sacramental, and seasonal aspects. According to Fr Afonso, these hymns facilitate spiritual growth through their accessible language. Reflecting on its history, he recounted the hymn book's evolution from humble beginnings as cyclostyle sheets in 1963-1965 to its current form of 511 hymns, initiated with nine hymns by Fr João Baptista Viegas and Belarmino Lobo in the name Misachi Bhett Gaionanamni (The holy sacrifice of the mass in hymns) in 1960.   He fondly remembered Fr Vasco Do Rego for initiating this Hymn book by composing the hymn ‘Visvasacho Dis,’ in 1963, expressing deep gratitude for his contribution

Fr Vasco do Rego, SJ, notably contributed 303 hymns to this collection. Additionally, a host of other esteemed individuals such as Fr Lino de Sa, Fr Moreno de Souza, SJ, Fr Aloisio da Cruz, SJ, Belarmino Lobo, Fr Ubaldo Fernandes, SFX, Fr Socorro Dias do Rosario, Fr Alfred Vaz, Fr Anand Aguiar, Fr Bernardo Cota, Alcantara Barros, Anthony D'Souza, Fr Anthony Rodrigues, Fr Crescencio Monteiro, Fr Francisco Miranda, Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, Joaquim Rodrigues, Jose Santana Cota, Fr Jose Antonio Dias Mendes, Manohar Rai Sardesai, P A Mascarenhas, Pedro Salvador Carneiro, Raimundo Barreto and Fr Tomas D'Aquino Sequeira played significant roles in shaping this hymn book. The youngest composer of a liturgical melody has been a 12-year-old boy Francis Anthony Fernandes

It's fascinating to highlight that the hymn book features a beautiful blend of talents, including the noted Konkani poet Manohar Rai Sardesai's poem, alongside traditional hymns by Goans and also by the composers from Mangaluru but the writers are unknown. The collaborative effort involved 49 priests and 70 lay people contributing music for the hymns, while 21 priests and 20 lay individuals composed music for various parts of the mass.

This celebration not only commemorated a milestone but also paid homage to the rich heritage of hymns, encapsulating both tradition and the timeless connection between music, faith, and culture.