The Church in Piedade village in Divar, on a hill is dedicated to Our Lady of Piety, or Nossa Senhora da Piedade Igreja em Divar, Goa in Portuguese. It has a Catholic population of around 1,500, who celebrate the feast of the patron on the third Sunday of October, which this year falls on 15 October.
ORIGIN
The first chapel was constructed on top of the Divar hill, between the villages of Goltim and Navelim in December 1515 and it was dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Divar and since there was no Church in this village, this chapel was considered to be one. At present, the cemetery exists here.
Gaspar Correira, in the book, Lendas da India, Vol. II, pg 108, says that after finishing the battle in Persia, Alfonso de Albuquerque proceeded to Goa since he had a great desire to see the Church dedicated to Our Lady of Piety in Divar. He further adds that Alfonso prayed the whole day during this journey, and seeing the Church of Divar, he returned to the cabin…... and passed away on December 27, 1515.
Others say that the first chapel was constructed in 1541 by Rui de Silveira, a native of Evora and captain of the sea of Narve. This information is given on a stone, which is now below the middle door of Narve Church.
The Chapel was expanded in 1625 and raised to the statues of the Church by archbishop D. Frei Sebatiao De S. Pedro (1625-1629).
The construction of the present Church began in 1700 and it was completed in 1724. Its architect was Fr (Msgr) Antonio Joao de Frias from San Ana Telaulim, Vicar of Piedade, who died in 1727 at his native place. The two Communidades Fabriqueiras, namely Goltim and Navelim, helped financially to construct the church. The missionaries who brought the Catholic faith to this island were the Jesuits.
CHURCH
The Church has three main entrances, one in front and the other two on the sides. It has twin towers with spear finials. Its architecture is New Roman with Baroque features. The columns in the Church are Corinthian. To the left of the main entrance is a staircase that leads to the choir loft and to the right is a huge Baptismal Font that looks to be constructed of one single stone. It has a huge pulpit and in it is the image of the patron.
In front of the Church are two statues on pedestals, one that of Fr Jacome Gonsalves and the other of St Jose Vas.
On the Church wall is a black marble plaque and on it, the following words inscribed: “From this Island left for Ceylon on 9.5.1705, Fr Jacome Gonsalves, an Oratorian Savant, successor to Fr Jose Vas, who graced the mission and made it grow for 37 years. He was born in the village Graca, Chorao on 8/6/1678. Son of Tomas Gonsalves, from Piedade and Mariana Abreu, from Graca, He was buried in the Bolawate Church, Ceylon. This memorial is placed by the Piedade parish as a homage to His Majesty on 17/7/2017 on the occasion of his 275th death anniversary.”
ALTARS
The main altar is dedicated to the patron, Our Lady of Piety, whose statue is seen high behind the altar. Below it is a huge tabernacle which is supported by two evangelists, and next to them are images of two saints. It has other altars, which are dedicated to the Lord, Our Lady and Saints. On one altar we see the boy Jesus seated with a book, teaching. Under one of the altars in a case, is a statue of Jesus in a coffin, which is used during the Holy Week. It has a huge Sacristy with a number of artefacts and a huge wooden cross.
FEAST
The parishioners celebrate the feast with deep fervour on the third Sunday of October, which is preceded by the Maddi and the nine-day thematic Novena. During the Novena days, a statue of the patron is kept in the church, which the faithful venerate and on the feast day it is taken in procession.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)
