Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa
History
The Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia is called ‘Nossa Senhora das Neves Igreja em Raia , Goa’ in Portuguese.. The Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa is also popularly called The Raia Church locally in Goa. The Raia Church with its parish was founded in 1699. The Raia church was formed to cater to the spiritual needs of the new parishioners of this large parish. Most of the Parishioners of the Raia church were based outside the fort of Rachol. The Raia church was dedicated to the same patroness as the Rachol church, Our Lady of Snows. The Priests who built the Raia church were from Santa Maria Majore which has a special devition to Our Lady of Snows and so they dedicated the Raia church also to their patroness. The Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa has evolved considerably with time from the first church built of mud to the later one built of sand and brick by the Jesuits to the current magnificent structure. The Raia church building and the parochial residence were renovated in 2003.
The Religious Orders present in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa are The Religious Men of the Society of Jesus (SJ) and the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). The Religious Women in the Raia Parish are The Handmaids of Christ (HC). The Society of Jesus (SJ) is based at The Pedro Arrupe Institute, St Xavier Street, Damon, Raia, Goa. The Society of the Divine Word (SVD) are based at the SVD Mission seminary, Raia, Goa. The Handmaids of Christ (HC) are based at St Theresa Convent, Ganapoga, Raia, Goa.
The Educational Institutions in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa are Our Lady of Snows High School, Raia, Goa, St Theresa’s Convent High School, Raia, Goa run by the Handmaids of Christ Religious Order and the Our Lady of Livramento Primary School, Arlem, Raia, Goa.
The Retreat Houses in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa are Ashirvad at Raia, Goa run by the Society of the Divine Word and The Pedro Arrupe Spiritual Centre, Raia, Goa run by the Society of Jesuits.
The Chapels with Chaplains in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa are
Our Lady of Monserrate Chapel, Manora, Raia, Goa whose Chaplain is Fr Bernardo Cota.
Our Lady of Livramento Chapel, Arlem, Raia, Goa whose Chaplain is Fr Francisco Xavier Fernandes.
The Other Chapels in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa without Chaplains are
Our Lady of Remedios Chapel, Curra, Raia, Goa
St Cajetan Chapel, Arlem, Raia, Goa
St Anne Chapel, Solva, Raia, Goa
St Sebastian Chapel, Bacbatta, Raia, Goa
The Number of Catholics in the Parish of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa are 9,500.
The Feast of Our Lady of Snows Church, Raia, Goa is celebrated on 5th August every year.
The Address of the Raia church is Our Lady of Snows Church at Raia, Goa 403720.