Across Parishes in Goa “Ave Maria” rings bell
More than 70-odd churches and chapels across Goa have installed musical bells, called ‘Pulsator’, with the chime that has the popular hymn of ‘Ave Maria‘ (dedicated to Our Lady) at specific hours of the day.
These musical bells have been installed in churches such as St Alex Church, Calangute; Our Lady of Hope Church, Candolim; Saviour of the World Church, Salvador do Mundo; St Joseph Church, Sao Jose de Areal; Saviour of the World Church, Lotoulim; Our Lady of Livra Febres Church, Consua-Verna; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Assolna; Our Lady of Succour, Socorro, among others. Besides, various chapels in Goa such as St Joseph Chapel, Davorlim; Our Lady of Rosary Chapel, Zoriwaddo-Davorlim; Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Cobravaddo-Calangute; Our Lady of Gloria Chapel, Ilha-de-Rachol; St Anthony Chapel, Deussa-Chinchinim; Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Panzorcone-Cuncolim, among others.
“These bells have been set to a timer that rings at the time of the Angelus (7 pm daily),” said Fr Furtado. St Sebastian Church, Aquem-Margao parish priest Fr Ligorinho D’Costa said, “The musical bell, fully automatic and programmed, was installed four years ago. It is rung daily— at 5.30am for the daily first mass, at 12 noon and 7pm for the Angelus, 8pm for the Rosary, besides other occasions such as daily masses, funerals, etc. It has been installed by Felix Madonna from Kochi so it can be controlled from there, too.”
Madonna said, “Pulsator is a Latin word for church bell ringer/time keeper, so this Pulsator is an automatic church bell ringer with a remote and can ring in any pattern. It is fully automatic and requires no manpower or maintenance. It is priced at Rs 2 lakh and over 86 church bells have been installed all over India with the first installation in my parish, Holy Family Church, South Chittoor, Kochi, Kerala on September, 2012. The new Pulsator is being appreciated as the good concept by the parishioners.
