Our Lady of Grace Church is a

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church in

Chorão Alexandre Magno Abrão (9 April 1970 – 6 March 2013), known professionally as Chorão, was a Brazilian singer-songwriter, skateboarder, filmmaker, screenwriter and businessman. Best known for being a founding member and the vocalist/main lyri ...

Goa Goa () is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is located between the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the ...

, India. It is bounded on its north and west by the

Mapusa River Mapusa River (Rio de Mapuça) river is one of the main tributary of the River Mandovi in Goa, India. The river originates from the jungles of Dumacem and Amthane, meanders eastward and then southward before it drains itself in the Mandovi ri ...

, with

Salvador do Mundo Salvador do Mundo (Portuguese for ''Saviour of the World'') is a village in Bardez taluka, Goa, in India. The village is located south west of Socorro and east of Porvorim. The Mount has a Chapel, which is used to hold services during the Len ...

remaining exactly opposite to it. To the south is the

river Mandovi The Mahadayi/Mandovi River (''Mandovi'', pronounced ), also known as Mahadayi or Mhadei river, is described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa. The Mandovi and the Zuari are the two primary rivers in the state of Goa. Mandovi joins wi ...

with

Ribandar Ribandar is a town in Tiswadi, Goa, located between the cities of Panjim (Nova Goa) and Old Goa (Velha Goa). Etymology The name Ribandar originates from "Rayachem Bandar" in Konkani meaning the wharves, docks or portage of the ''Rayas'' or Ki ...

opposite to it and to its east is the St Bartholomew's Church.

History

The Our Lady of Grace Church was built by Jesuits in 1551. The Church has 3 altars dedicated to Our Lady of Grace (Main Altar), Bom Jesus and Saint Roque. The first diocesan priest to be confirmed as Vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church was Fr. Bernard Coutinho (1598-1648) and retained this position for 50 years. He died on 14 December 1648. There is still epitaph of Grave of Fr. Bernard Coutinho in the Church.

Feast

The Feast of Our Lady of Grace Church is celebrated on the third Sunday of may every year. During Portuguese times the affluence of the people of Chorão Island attracted merchants even from foreign lands who came with their merchandise luxury goods, the feast of Nossa Senhora da Graça was an occasion for such gathering at a grand fair.

Seminary

A seminary called the

Real Colégio de Educação de Chorão Real Colégio de Educação de Chorão is a defunct Catholic seminary that was founded on 2 April 1761 in Chorão (Island), Chorão, India. It belonged to the Parish of Our Lady of Grace Church (Chorão Island). History The Real Colégio de Ed ...

was established in April 1761. It belonged of the Parish of Our Lady of Grace Church.

References

Roman Catholic churches in Chorão Island Portuguese colonial architecture in India {{India-church-stub Roman Catholic churches in Goa

History

Feast

Seminary

See also

References