The St Anne’s Church at Talaulim

CHRONICLES OF GOAN CHURCHES

Origin

In 1577, some devotees purchased a land and named it Quinta de Sant Ana. A Jesuit priest, who was given the responsibility to convert Talaulim and Moula villages, constructed a small heritage.

Once some natives accepted Christianity, he constructed a church there, though he did not dedicate it to any saint, later Mons Francisco de Rego (1681-1689) extended it. Fr Antonio da Cunha, the next parish priest completed it in 1695. The same year it got the status of a church.

There are two legends that led the Jesuits to dedicate the Church to St Anne.

One legend says that when the construction was in progress, Bartalomeu Marchon had an apparition of an old lady come down the hill with a walking cane and a hat, telling him that the church under construction was her abode. The other legend says that the same lady cured a sick brahmin lady, and also requesting for an abode in the village.

Later, a bigger church was constructed here. The picture depicting St Anne, with a hat and a staff in the hand, as seen in the apparitions, is high up in the transept facing the sanctuary.

At its glory, the church had 12,000 catholic population, today it is around 300. The major reason for this drastic fall in population was the plague in Old Goa in 1783, that affected this village too and also the suppression of the religious orders.

The Archaeological Survey of India later took over this church. In 2000, it was included on the World Monuments Watch; the same body, in partnership with Fundacao Oriente of Lisbon and with the financial help from the State Government restored the Church to its former glory.

The Church has twin towers. The major highlight of the Church is the hollow walls, through which the people could walk in secrecy for confessions.

Altars

The middle altar is consecrated to the patron, St. Anne. To its left is the image of Mary with the child Jesus, the side altar is dedicated to Our Lady of Good Voyage.

Touxeachem Fest

The Church feast is also known as Touxeachem Fest, Feast of Cucumbers. The reason for this is that on this day couples come for the feast and offer these to Our Lady asking for a child.

(The writer is Superior at Casa Professa, Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa)