The Church
of St. Anne at Talaulim Ilhas
Of all the churches in Goa, the most ostentious and notable for its excellent
architeture is that of St Anne. It was reconstructed by Mons Francisco do Rego
with his own funds and with the constributions of some villagers. Unfortunately
he could not complete the task thus the onus befell on Fr Antonio Francisco
da Cunha for its completion which he did 1965. The main altar is consecrated
to St Anne.
There is a belief that the main altar is pledged to this beloved Saint due to
certain reasons as narrated By Fr F de Souza in his ‘Oriente Conquistado’
- In the island of Goa (Tiswadi) in the year 1577 some devotees purchased the
site which came to be known as ‘Quinta de Sant Ana’ where every week
the students of ‘Colegio de S Paulo’ used to indulge themselves in
some leisure activities.
The priest who was residing at the local was entrusted for the conversions of
the villagers of Moula and Talaulim decided to consturct a small hermitage though
he failed to consecrate the same in honour of any known saint.
However a ‘Gaokar’ Bartalomeu Marchon said that he saw an old woman
coming down the hill with a walking cane and a hat and claimed that the hermitage
was her abode and wanted to set her residence therein.
Not knowing the name of this lady the priest propagated in the village this
reported instance. On hearing about this incident, an old Brahmin lady, claimed
that when she was seriously ill the same old lady appeared to her in her dreams
and held her hand to rise from her stricken bed and said that her name was Anne
and wnted a house in the village.
The result of this dream was her miraculous cure and subsequent conversion which
precipitated the priest to avow that the glorious St Anne had to be revered
in theta village as such the Church was consecreated to St Anne.
The festivity of St Anne which falls on July 26 is celebrated throughout Goa,
but more with aplomb in the tiny village of Talaulim (near Goa Velha) where
it is known as ‘Touceachem Fest’ (Cucumber Feast). It is a recorded
fact that though the Portuguese introduced their Christian festivals to Goa,
Goans with their characteristic ingenuity modified these festivals to befit
their seasons without altering the dates.
