CHRONICLES OF GOAN CHURCHES
The Church in Colvale, overlooking the south bank of Chapora river, is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. It is also known as Sao Francisco de Assisi Igreja em Colvale, in Portuguese. The Stigmata feast of St Francis of Assisi is on September 17 but parishioners will celebrate the feast this year on September 22.
THE ORIGIN
According to Klement de S Iria, the first church, of mud walls and thatched roof, was founded by the Franciscans in 1591. The same was reconstructed of stones around 1638 by Pedro da Purifacao (1677-80), the head of the Franciscan Order.
When the Marathas invaded Bardez in 1683, the soldiers burnt the parochial house and the back of the altar. The following year, Frei Diogo da Madre de Deus (1683-6) rebuilt the entire church.
In 1713, the Church was reconstructed and dedicated to the Five Wounds of St Francis of Assisi by Frei Francisco de S Ignez, Provincial of the Order (1713-16). The last Franciscan parish priest was Frei Vicente da Madre de Deus (1765-7).
After the Franciscans left Bardez, the Goa diocese took over the Church’s administration. On the right side on a stone is an inscription in English which says that the entire church was repaired when Fr. Erlich Ernest D’ Souza was the parish priest (1974-1977).
On the occasion of its fourth anniversary (1991), during the tenure of parish priest, Fr Visitacao Monteiro (1990), some repairs were done to the church and the church’s edifice was also painted.
THE CHURCH
The church building stands out for being one of the few completely vaulted parish churches in Goa and this was done on the initiatives of the Colvale and Camurlim communities. On the front façade of the church is the image of St Francis of Assisi and on either side below are images of angels.
The façade has a tower on either side, which seem to have been added in the 19th century, one has the church bell. The chancel and the parish house overlooking the bank of Chapora river was renovated recently. In the church compound is a cross mounted on a platform and to its left is a pulpit; so too the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and a monument of Christ the King, which was constructed by Augustinho de Souza, Rafael de Souza and Flori da Silva and on it is inscribed the year: January 3, 1957.
THE ALTARS
At the back of the middle altar is the image of the Crucified Jesus with St. Francis of Assisi on his knees. Below it is a small image of St Sebastian and to its right that of St Francis Xavier. It has two small altars, one dedicated to Our Lady of Piedade, Piedade Saibinn and below it is the image of Saint Anne. The other altar is dedicated to Karm Saibinn, Our Lady of Carmel, and below it is the image of Our Lady of the Rosary. On the left side of the old Communion railing is another altar dedicated to Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary.
The Colvale Church has the following chapels under its jurisdiction: Refugium Peccatorium (Our Lady of Refuge of Sinners) Chapel, St Rock’s Chapel, St Sebastian Chapel, Our Lady of Carmel Chapel, Our Lady of the Mount Chapel, Our Lady of Deliverance Chapel, St Anthony Chapel, St Francis Xavier Chapel and Holy Cross Chapel.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
