Nachinola begins the year with their village feast

The village of Nachinola begins the year with their village feast

The villagers of Nachinola have a double celebration every New Year’s day. The ushering in of a new year as well as the feast of the patron of their parish Bom Jesus meaning  Good Jesus on January first every year.  The village is sandwiched between Aldona to the North and Moira to the West, Ucassaim to the South and Pomburpa to the east.

The Pomburpa church is not seen by many as it is tucked in a corner of the village. The villagers of Nachinola used to worship at the Aldona Church till they got their own Bom Jesus Church built in the Village in 1676. Even though it did not have many Catholics living in the vicinity, the Church of Bom Jesus at Nachinola was built and it became an independent parish.

The Franciscans,  the main order based in Bardez were responsible for the construction of the Nachinola Church. The Church was blessed on July 26 1676 by the Superior of the Franciscan Order Fr Pedro da Purificacao

The funds for building the Nachinola church were contributed by the Nachinola Communidade. Since the funds were not sufficient for building the Church, the Superiors also helped in with financial support. Records show that there were around 615 Catholics in the Parish of Nachinola in 1720. The number grew organically as the records shown by Filipe Neri Xavier in Bosquejo Historico das Communidades shows the number at 887 in 1884 and 824 in 1900. In 1933 it was 931 and the Anuario of 1955 records the number around 1600.

According to the records of Filipe Neri besides the contribution to build the church, the communidade also spent money to buy a bell for the church which originally belonged to the old convent of Santo Domingos of the Dominican order in Old Goa. The bell was bought from the public revenue office in 1937 for 300 Xerafins. The communidade also contributed with one jono.

On the main door of the church, it is written in Portuguese
‘ESTA IGREJA SE FUNDOU AOS VINTE E SIES De JULHO DE 1676 ESTE PORTAL HE 20 1 DE JANEIRO DE 1729.

As one enters the nachinola church the following can be read on the left side wall of the church written in Konkani ‘Hem Povitr mondir sthaplear tin xekdde bollandle’ which translates to This Blessed Church has completed Three Hundred Year. In English the following plaque is present 26^th July 1676 – 1976 tricentenary of the Church of Bom Jesus, Nachinola, Goa.

The Church of Nachinola has five altars. Besides the main altar which is dedicated to Bom Jesus, there are another four. One is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, the second to St Sebastian which was privileged by a decree no 17 dated March 22, 1924. The Third Altar is that of Our Lady of Piedade  ( Piety) and the fourth altar is dedicated to the Saint Luis Gonzaga. The maintenance of the church is done by the Communidade, Fabrica and the only Confraria of Santissimo Sacramento and Bom Jesus.

On top on the right of the main altar is depicted the scene of Jesus in Calvary in this Scene Jesus is nailed to the cross and on his right is standing his Mother Mary and to his left is Saint John. Below the scene on the right is the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the left is the Sacred Heart of Mary.

The Right side altar is dedicated to St Sebastian and below his statue is the statue of St Anthony.  The left side altar is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. Around the middle of the left side of the church is the altar which looks like a miniature chapel which is dedicated to Our Lady of Piety.