The Church on a hillock overlooking the Agassaim village is dedicated to St. Lawrence, the Martyr. It is also called Sao Lourenco Igreja em Agassaim, in Portuguese. The parishioners celebrate the feast on August 10.
ORIGIN
In 1541, a small chapel was constructed in Agassaim. Today, its vestures can still be seen in the north side of the present Church.
The Jesuits who were entrusted the work of evangelising this village constructed a church here, of mud walls and thatched roof in 1565. This church stands till today, though during the course of centuries it has undergone changes.
The first Jesuit parish priest was Fr Joâo Dias and Br Bento Fernandes assisted him. During the tenure of Fr Estevâo da Gama, a diocesan priest, the church was enlarged. He passed away on January 1, 1650. This presumes that the Jesuits had left the place much before they were expelled from Goa in 1759.
CHURCH
The church building has a single tile roofed nave and on its front façade are inscribed these words: St. Lawrence, Martyr Church and below it: Agacaim estb 1565. It has only one tower and in it is the big bell which was bought at the auction held in Chorao in 1871; it belonged to the Chorao Seminary.
On the southern side is the chapel dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, which dates to the early 18th century.
ALTARS
The middle altar is dedicated to the patron, St Lawrence, who is depicted holding a boat in one hand, since he is the patron saint of sailors. On its sides are the images of St Anthony and St Sebastian.
These images seem to have been placed after the Jesuits left the place. The other altars are dedicated to St Joseph and Our Lady of Succour and above these are the images of St Francis Xavier and St John the Baptist. The church has a small chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which has the image of Our Lady of Piedade.
FEAST
On the Feast Day, parishioners also organise a unique event – the coconut-breaking contest – which attracts participants from all over the State. The same seems to have been started by the bhatkars of the village then to prove the superiority of the coconuts in their plantations.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
