A painting titled, ‘Jesus my Guide’ …walking in the footsteps of Christ…! done of charcoal on paper was presented to St Sebastian Church, Aquem – Alto, Margao by Maendra Alvares, Founder of Ancestral Goa, Big Foot Museum, Loutolim, on the occasion of International Exhibition of Eucharistic Miracles of the World and Veneration of Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, felicitated by Goa Capuchin Province. Alvares, had visited the exhibition earlier and was impressed with it. It may be recalled Maendra Alvares, who has a distinctive collection of crosses around the globe had collaborated with Cedric da Costa for the ‘All Goa Roadside Crosses’ contest and exhibition at Big Foot Museum recently.
At the exhibition Alvares and son Adriel, CO, Big Foot Museum had expressed appreciation of the exhibition highlighting that intercession of Bl Carlo will help Goa’s youth.
It was during these interactions that Cedric da Costa requested Maendra Alvares to sketch a portrait in memory of Bl Carlo for St Sebastian Church as an art memory of the grand exhibition.
St Sebastian Church and Chapel are not new to Alvares, as he used to attend mass at the old ‘Puddam Copel’, before the new Church was built.
On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Maendra Alvares presented a sketch titled ‘Jesus my Guide’ ….walking in the footsteps of Christ…! to Fr Agnelo Rodrigues, Parish Priest and Fr Josely Rocha, Asst Parish Priest in the presence of Cedric da Costa, parishioners and visitors at the exhibition.
Fr Agnelo thanked Alvares for the painting and da Costa for the imitative for the parish.
The black and white work of art is sketched by charcoal on paper, mounted, framed and has Jesus in the Eucharist and Bl Carlo.
The painting is an offering to the St Sebastian Parish, a token of love, appreciation and remembrance of the first open exhibition held in Goa of Eucharistic Miracles and relic of Bl Carlo at St Sebastian Church.
The exhibition will be a great moment in the history of St Sebastian Parish and the painting will be a portrait of love and remembrance of the exhibition as the Church awaits the declaring of Bl Carlo Acutis as a young saint of the modern internet era with a special appeal to teens, youth and parents.
“We accept this beautiful painting as a token of love and appreciation for the successful first Exhibition related to Bl Carlo”, said Fr Agnelo, while Fr Josely said, “It will help our youth to reflect and contemplate more on Jesus in the Eucharist through Bl Carlo”.
“May the divine intercession of Bl Carlo bless and guide our Parish, specially its youth and families and help them remain united to Jesus in the Eucharist”, said Cedric da Costa.
The seven day exhibition was attended by thousands of visitors and assisted many to deepen their faith in Jesus through the Eucharist and Bl Carlo as seen by various testimonies by the youth and parishioners at the concluding ceremony.
– Cedric da Costa