CHRONICLES OF GOAN CHURCHES
The Church in Nuvem is dedicated to Jesus, Mary and Joseph; it is also known as Mother of Poor Church. The parishioners celebrate the feast on the first Sunday of November, which this year falls on November 3.
THE ORIGIN
Jose Colaco, a ganvkar of Margao, constructed the first chapel in his property in Nuvem in 1695 next to his house and dedicated it to the Holy Family and Mother of the Poor. It was affiliated to the Margao Church and was administered by the Jesuits from Margao. In course of time, the Chapel gained devotion from the poor peasant families, and it came to be known as the Mother of the Poor Church.
Due to the large Catholic population here, chaplains were appointed for it ever since 1761. It was elevated to the parish on July 3, 1903, then the side wings of the church were constructed along with the front portico, which were blessed by then Archbishop of Goa Raul Gonsalves on November 5, 1978.
In front of the church is a monument of Christ the King, constructed by Nuvem Mae de Deus Pobres Club of Mumbai; it was blessed by the Archbishop Patriarch Dom Jose Vieira Alvenaz on October 25, 1953.
THE ALTARS
The church has 3 altars; the middle altar has the images of the Holy Family, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary and that of the Crucified Jesus in the middle. The altar to the right is dedicated to Karm Saibin and above it is the image of St Aloysius Gonzaga; the altar to the left is dedicated to Mae de Pobres and above it is the image of St. Anne.
NEW CHURCH
In the course of time the building showed cracks in the interior walls and the paint too began to peel off. Besides, it could not accommodate the large catholic population. The decision was taken to construct a new church. The architectural team were given a gigantic task of conceptualising a modern church that could accommodate around 1,500 people.
The team decided not to pull down the old heritage structure but to restore it to its former glory and then designed a modern church. So, a new church was constructed next to the old one with the funds also from the Catholics and the well-wishers and it was inaugurated on December 30, 2023, by Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao.
THE CHURCH
The Church design is like that of Noah’s Ark; it has a curved roof and a stained-glass artwork of the Holy Family on the front glass cladding and so too a beautiful mural of Jesus calming the stormy water. It can accommodate around 1,500 people; it has a choir loft with the seating capacity of around 300. There is a provision made for mothers with babies and for children on the northern side to take part in the church services. The church has spacious ramps for the benefit of seniors and differently abled. In the basement is a hall that can be used for other church activities. The old church has been converted into an adoration centre.
The altar is made of a carved panel with local motifs. At the back is a huge image of Crucified Jesus, to its side are the images of the Holy Family and of St. Jose Vaz and Mother of the Poor.
(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.)
