Church of St. Francis

The establishment of the Church of St Francis of Assisi was the combined efforts of the eight Franciscan friars, who landed in Goa, in 1517. They then conquered small houses of the then deceased ‘Thanedar’. In the premises, they constructed a small chapel, a choir along with the three altars.

Church of St Francis of Assisi was consecrated to the Holy Ghost in 1521. Later on, in 1661, the very church was smashed down and the present church of St Francis of Assissi was built and has only the entrance of the previous church.

The Church of St Francis of Assissi located in thewest of the Se Cathedral. The former palace of the Archbishop also has a link with the Se Cathedral to the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi. This quaint church has been created out of laterite blocks and was plastered with lime. The church possesses a nave, along with three chapels on either sides of it, a choir, two altars in the transept and a main altar. Towards the north of the main altar, there is a belfry and a sacristy, in the3 church.

The exterior of the Church has been laid down in the Tuscan style with its main entrance in the Manuline fashion. In a bay on the frontage, there is a figurine of our lady of miracles. This piece of sculpture had been taken from Jaffna in Sri Lanka. The main altar inside the church has Baroque and Corinthian lineaments; along with massive frescos which has been imprinted on wood representing the life events of St. Francis of Assissi.

There is also a wooden statue of St. Francis of Assisi, which has been erected on a pedestal that also bears the emblem of the Franciscans. Under the mausoleum there is the main altar, painted and richly carved bay with a tabernacle, which was used for showcasing the holy sacrament. The main altar in the church also has a big statue of St. Francis of Assisi and also of the Crucified Jesus beneath, inscribing the three vows of the St Francis – poverty, humility and obedience.