The Church at Taleigao is dedicated to St Michael the Archangel and the Parish celebrates the feast on the first Sunday of October, which this year falls on October 5. Besides celebrating the feast of the patron, the Parish also celebrates the Noviciade, the Harvest festival, a four-day festival in August.
THE ORIGIN
The Dominicans established the church in the village in 1544, during the tenure of Bishop Joao de Albuquerque. Fr Diogo Madeira served as the parish priest in 1625. They handed over the church to the diocesan clergy in 1776 and Fr Cristovao Lobo became the parish priest.
LATER HISTORY
In 1972, Arthur Ligorio de Annunciao Viegas undertook extensive repairs of the church with his own funds; its details are inscribed on a marble stone. The holy father Pope Paul VI honoured him with Medalha de Proeclesia Pontificie (Pontififcal Proeclesia medal) for his generosity. Fr Ventura Lourenco and Fr Aquilo Gomes, the then parish priests, renovated the church and the cemetery. Luciano Jovito Francisco Pinto of Calangute donated land for the extension of the cemetery in 1990s, while Alvaro Viegas constructed the wall and the niches in the cemetery. The Chapel of Blessed Sacrament was constructed in 2004 during the tenure of Fr Carmo Martins as parish priest (1997-2004). Fr Conceição D’ Silva (2011-2018) carried out extensive works”replacing rafters, repainting walls, renovating the parochial house and office. Fr Cipriano da Silva was instrumental in bringing about the St Michael Community Centre. Lately, the Sacristy was renovated.
In the church compound in one corner is the statue of Cristo Rei, which was erected in 1967. When the church celebrated 475 years of its existence in 2019, a logo was installed in front of the Church which was blessed by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao.
The church corridor displays large panels. On the left are portraits of St John the Baptist, St Roque, St Francis of Assisi, St Peter and St Carlo Borromeo. On the right is a painting of Jesus on the Cross at Mount Calvary, with Mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and others. A wall niche holds an image of Our Lady with the Infant Jesus. On the right-hand side are pedestals with five statues: St Dominic de Guzman in three depictions “ with a star on his forehead, in prayer, and with the Bible; and St. Thomas Aquinas in two forms “ one with a sun on his chest and the other holding the Blessed Sacrament.
THE CHURCH
The church is built in Neo“Roman architectural style; it has only one tower. The frontispiece of the church has a Holy Spirit in high relief. It has a high façade surrounded by a large gable with an oculus. It has an elaborately carved pulpit adorned with high-relief depiction of the Holy Spirit in the frontispiece. Atanasio Monserrate sponsored azulejo tiles of the church compound and also illumination around it.
THE ALTARS
The church has six altars. The main altar is dedicated to the patron, whose image is in the niche above the Tabernacle, flanked by a statues of St Sebastian and St Anthony. The altar to the left of the Eucharistic table is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary with the statue of St Ana in a niche on top and the right to Jesus Crucified and the statue of Saint Rita of Cassia. Another two altars have been added: one to the left has a panel and to the right is that of Our Lady with Infant Jesus with a book in his hand and a smaller statue at the bottom with Jesus.
Closer to the entrance, to the right is the altar dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus with Sacred Heart of Mary and Saint Joseph on the sides. Midway to the right is the altar dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima; this was done in 1951 by the Communidade of Taleigao. The following chapels come under its jurisdiction: Nossa Senhora da Piedade (Eugenio ward), Nossa Senhora de Lourdes (Odxel), Capela de San Francisco Xavier (Kerant junction) and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Dona Paula).
