CHRONICLES OF GOAN CHURCHES
THE GOAN | PANAJI
The Church at St Inez is dedicated to St Agnes; it is popularly known as Santa Inez church. The parishioners celebrate the Feast of the Patron on Sunday after January 21, which this year falls on January 26.
HISTORY
Dom Francisco de Eca and his wife Dona Joana de Menezes constructed a small chapel with their own finances at the present site in 1584. Then, through a gift deed dated July 27, 1601, they gave it to the Augustinians, who reconstructed a larger structure in 1605.
The Augustinian bishop, Dom Frei Aleixo de Menezes (1595-1609) raised it to the status of the church by the Provision dated November 11, 1606. This was done after carving out portions of Taleigao, Santa Cruz and the Panjim parishes. In 1653, a new church building was constructed and dedicated to St Agnes.
The Augustinians took care of the parish till 1776, then the diocesan clergy took it over. In all, 19 Augustinians served here as parish priests, the first being Frei Manuel do A. do Soeiro (1637-38) and the last Frei Agostinho de Jesus (1771-1776). Then the diocese took over the parish, the first diocesan parish priest appointed here was Fr Carlos de Souza (1776-1791).
The parochial residence was earlier the house of Canon Francisco da Cunha Souto Maior, who bequeathed it to the Archbishop and his successors. In fact, the Archbishop of Goa resided here from 1795 for some years. The foundation stone of the new parochial residence, adjoining the church was laid on March 19, 1982 and it was inaugurated on January 26, 1986. A parish community hall for the church was added later, on the top floor through the financial assistance of a generous donor from Spain; it was inaugurated by Archbishop Raul Gonsalves on March 19, 1989.
THE CHURCH
The church building architecture represents the Mannerist Neo-Roman style; it has fluted capitals, triangular and arched pediments, low domes and twin towers, in one is the bell.
On the front façade of the church, right above is the Cross and below it encased is the image of the patron. There was a stone or a shield on the top of the left door and on it was the image of two Augustinian priests and in between them was an Augustinian bishop, which at the moment cannot be noticed since it is covered with chunam.
Quite recently, a portion of the Church interior was renovated, with the addition of azulejo panel work in the entrance foyer of the church. A grill was also added here which allows the faithful to come and pray at all times, while still maintaining the security of the interior. New tiles and benches were also restored.
The cemetery is to the right side of the church, which is also used by the Panjim parish. In the church compound at one corner, is a small grotto of our Lady of Lourdes.
ALTARS
The Church has 4 altars; the middle altar, which has plain panelling and cornice designs, is dedicated to St Agnes; the other altars are dedicated to St Nicholas, Our Lady of Safe Harbour, Nossa Senhora do Porto Seguro and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
It has two chapels under its jurisdiction, Stella Maris Chapel and Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.)
