OUR LADY OF SNOW CHURCH, RAIA

The Our Lady Of Snow Church, Raia is called 'Nossa Senhora das Neves Igreja em Raia, Goa' in Portuguese.This church is also fondly known as the Raia church. The Raia Church was founded in the year 1699.

Our Lady Of Snow Church in Raia celebrates the very popular harvest festival on the 5th of August every year, which is locally known as the ' Konsache Fest'.It includes the cutting of the first sheaves of paddy harvest using a very special sickle kept in the church by the priest and then distributing it among the assembled religious villagers. 

The sheaves are then used by the devotees to prepare some dish at home or to even put it on their alter or some even put it in their vehicle as a symbol of protection. 

This feast is attended by all the villagers irrespective of their religion or faith.

After the High Mass is over, it is a traditional that has been carried out for a long time and that is to held a football tournament which is attended by various clubs from the village as well as the neighbouring areas.

~Joselyn Rodrigues

St Diogo's Church, Guirim and Sangolda

                  St Diogo's Church

 St. Diogo is the Patron of Guirim and Sangolda villages. The Church structure traces its origin back to the fifteenth century. Constructed in 1604 A.D.,  this beautiful church was founded by Fr. Miguel de S. Boaventura, a Franciscan missionary and Chief Custodian (Custos e Comissario Geral). Diogo Lobo (Captain of Bardez) and his brother Fr. Joao de S. Mathias, a Franciscan missionary, undertook the task of establishing the new church. St. Diogo was chosen as the patron saint at the insistence of Diogo Lobo. Both villagers of Guirim and Sangolda helped in establishing this church.

The distinctive features of this church are many. The main altar is dedicated to the patron St. Diogo and on either side is St. Anthony of Padua and St. Francis of Assisi. There are 5 other ornate altars located  in the nave. The altar on the left hand side is dedicated to Infant Jesus and on the right is dedicated to Our Lady of Rosary.

The Church used to have three bells, two belonging to Sangolda and one to Guirim. Three arched doors lead into the church, while a smaller arched door leads to the sacristy. There is also a side entrance on the Guirim side.

                                              ~ Pearl Sequeira

SHREE KAMAKSHI TEMPLE, SHIRODA

The Kamakshi temple is dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi .She is also known as Parvati and is known as Shantadurga or Goddess of Peace. The temple is located in Shiroda which is situated 12 kms away from the village of Kavlem in Ponda taluka. 
The original temple of the deity was in Raia in Salcete Taluka which was destroyed during the missionary activities and the idol of Kamakshi was carried away to Shiroda where it is now situated.

A huge Mahadwar leads to the Kamakshi temple complex known as Thal. After passing under the Mahadwar the temple crowned by an octagonal two-storied tower with a golden Kalash perched on its peak can be seen prominently. The temple faces east and has a large Sabha Mandap. The temple has a tall Deepasthambha and a holy water tank. Inside the temple, there is a square shaped chowk and the Sanctum Sanctorum with the deity Shri Kamakshi in all splendors. The other deities in the temple complex are that of Shree Shantadurga, Shree Laxmi Narayan and Shree Rayeshwar (Shiva). 

A Palakhi procession of Goddess Kamakshi is held on every Shukla Panchami. The annual festivities are held at the temple during the Dussehra period and at the time of Jatra in spring. The Divja procession held during the Jatra wherein countless married women walk around the temple in the evening holding Divja or clay lamps offers a spectacular site. People all over Goa come to worship goddess Kamakshi... 

                                                       -Aachal Naik

The Holy Magi Kings Church, Reis Magos.

The Holy Magi Kings Church, Reis Magos, Goa is popularly known as ‘The Reis Magos Church’ locally in Goa, The first mass in the Province of Bardez was celebrated here at The Holy Magi Kings Church, Reis Magos, Goa in 1550. The Parish Church, dedicated to the Magi Kings (Reis Magos), came up in 1555. It was known as ‘Royal Church’ maintained wholly by the State under the Portuguese government. The Reis Magos Church was restored and declared a National Monument in 1932 by the erstwhile Portuguese government.

  Jerah Fernandes. 

SHRI LAIRAI TEMPLE, SHIRGAO

The temple of Shri Lairai Devi is situated in the village of Shirgao in Bicholim taluka. Devi Lairai and Milagres Saibin (virgin Mary) of Mapusa are recognized as sisters by the Goans. The zatra takes place in the month of May. Every year thousands of devotees attend the zatra to witness the walking of Dhonds who walk bare feet through the sacred fire known as 'Homkund'. 

The festival begins early in the morning and continues throughout till dawn. The dhonds take bath n then walk all the way to the temple. During midnight the dhonds perform a frantic dance inside the temple which becomes a major attraction for the people. 

Next a fire is made using a huge pile of wood kept in a large clearing near the temple. In the early hours of the morning, when the fire has died down around 4 am, the actual ritual starts with the devotees running through the hot coals carrying their sticks n chanting the name of Devi Lairai. It is said that the fire does not harm the devotees. Once the dhonds are done they throw their garlands on the banyan tree near the temple. 

               

                                                     -Aachal Naik

St. Anne Church ,Parra.

The St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa is called ‘Santa Ana Igreja em Parra, Goa’ in Portuguese. The St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa is popularly called ‘The Parra Church’ locally in Goa. The Parra Church was home to the Franciscan Rectorate of St. Anne, comprising the villages of Parra, Canca and Verla. The Parra church was established between 1650 and 1653 and was affiliated to the Parish of Nagoa. This first church of St. Anne at Parra was burnt down by the Marathas in 1683, The Parra Church was however rebuilt in 1688 and exists till today.

The Religious Orders based in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa are the Orders of Religious Men of Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Society of the Catholics Apostolate (Pallottines) (SAC). The Religious Women Orders in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa are The Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary of the Angels and The Fatima Sisters. The Salesians of Don Bosco are based at Don Bosco Youth Welfare Centre, Naikawaddo, Parra, Goa. The Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallotines) are based at Villa de Palloti, Silva Waddo, Parra, Goa. The Franciscan Sisters of St Mary are based at Jyoti Niwas, D’mello Vaddo, Canca, Parra, Goa. The Fatima Sisters are based at Pereira  Social Welfare Centre, Colcondem, Verla, Parra, Goa and at Xaveri Dhaam, Colcondem, Verla, Parra, Goa.

The Chapels without Chaplains in the Parish of St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa are
Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel, Verla, Parra, Goa
Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Parra, Goa.

The Feast of St. Anne Church, Parra, Goa is celebrated on the Sunday on or after 26th July every year.

-Robita Fernandes 

St Ann's Church

    St Ann's Church , Bodiem

The St Ann's Church is situated in the village of Bodiem which is a part of Tivim. This church stands tall for very many years. 

The patron saint of the church is St Ann.
The actual feast day of our patron was the 26th of July but our ancestors changed it to the Second Tuesday of May to make it more convenient for the people because it rains heavily in the month of July and to celebrate feasts and enjoy like how we usually do would be difficult.

The church has fine architecture and is well maintained by the people of Bodiem.

You will see that people work hard towards maintaining the church and there's unity.

Opposite the church is a river that flows with scenic beauty around it which attracts people to visit it.

People of Bodiem celebrate every feast with enthusiasm and most importantly the feast of St Ann is celebrated with much greater enthusiasm. Everyone attends the novenas which begin 9 days before and spiritually partake of the feast. 

                                               ~Pearl Sequeira

        

 Few pictures of the view opposite the church. 

St. Anthony Church, siolim

The church in Siolim is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. The church has two steeples on the frontispiece and a statue of St Anthony holding a serpent on a leash. This is a depiction of a miracle that took place at the time the church was being constructed. As history tells it, there was a serpent at that place which was hindering the construction work. The workers then prayed to St. Anthony for help and the next morning the snake was found caught in the cord placed in the statues hand.

The feast of St Anthony is on the 13th of June and is celebrated with grand fervour on the sunday following the 13th. The feast is preceeded by a 13 day novena known as Trezen, attended by a large number of devotees.

Jerah Fernandes. 

OUR LADY OF SOCCOUR CHURCH

Our Lady Of Socorro Church is called 'Nossa Senhora de Socorro em Socorro Igreja,Goa' in Portuguese. It is popularly called the 'the Socorro Church'.

It was bulit in 1667 and then rebuilt and expanded in 1763.

The Church celebrated '350 glorious years' of its construction last year(2018).

 

When it comes to celebration, festivals, music and food the Socorro Parish will never let you down.

For the past 6 years , on August 15 the village of Socorro celebrates the' Pattoleanchem Fest' along with 6 other festivals. And they are...

➽The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady
➽Independence Day
➽World Goa Day
➽Konkani Day
➽Ghumtachem Fest
➽Goenchem Jevonn 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goan folk dance performed by the parishioners

 

Singing on the beat of the ghumot.

The day starts with the school children celebrating the independance day which is then followed by the Eucharistic celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady.

The celebration of all the festivities starts after the mass. The parishioners perform various Goan cultural folk dances and songs along with the ghumot.

 

 

Parishioners displaying the patolio, pudde etc

 

Parishioner displaying and serving the kanji rice (pez) 

We also have the enthusiastic youth of the parish who also put up a great show which leaves everyone mesmerized.

The youth performing a dance battle - traditional vs modern

 

For the most awaited part - the amazing food that is prepared by all the parishioners with so much love. It includes

➽Rice (ukde), 
➽Prawns curry with lady fingers,
➽ Homemade pickles, 
➽Choneacho melgor,
➽ Dry fish,
➽ and vonn- the sweet dish with gram dal

These celebrations have no sponsors , no chief guests , there are no competitions and off course it is FREE!!

It is celebrated to bring the entire village of Socorro together  irrespective of the religion.

It reminds us of our traditions, culture, morals, values etc. that are gradually dying every single day.

It also helps the parishioners to showcase their talents irrespective of their age.

And last but not the least it is a wonderful experience to be a part of and to witness so much of beauty and blessings in the same place at the same time.......

~Joselyn Rodrigues