In a touching moment that bridges faith, history, and community, Goencho Festakar Marius Fernandes recently met with Fr John Tavares, the first Goan priest to be ordained in the United Kingdom. Their meeting took place in Leicester, where Fr Tavares now serves the local community with humility and warmth.
This wasn’t just a casual visit. It was a deeply emotional reunion tied to a very special memory — a 1995 religious pilgrimage to Marius’ village of Malar in Goa. That pilgrimage, possibly the first ever organised from Europe to Goa, was a spiritual milestone — led by Fr Tavares and orchestrated by Marius’ now 93-year-old mother, Antonette Fernandes, a pillar of community initiative and grace.
Marius was accompanied by his daughter Gemma Fernandes during this nostalgic trip. Fr Tavares graciously gave them a guided tour of his area in Leicester and served them a delicious, home-cooked meal — a reflection of the Goan hospitality that thrives no matter where Goans settle.
For Marius, known for his unwavering commitment to Goan festivals and cultural preservation, this reunion was another reminder of the lasting bonds that faith, migration, and shared roots create. It’s stories like these that reinforce the strength of the Goan diaspora and how its history continues to be written — not just in Goa, but across the globe.
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