St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa
St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is called ‘Sao Miguel Arcanjo Igreja em Anjuna, Goa’ in Portuguese. St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is popularly called ‘The Anjuna Church’ locally in Goa. The Anjuna church was founded in 1603 and dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. The original church building of St. Michael the Archangel church, Anjuna was demolished and rebuilt in 1713, having been further enlarged in 1897.
The Religious Orders based in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa are The Pilar Fathers and The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (SFN). The Pilar Fathers are based at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa and The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (SFN) are based at St Michaels Convent (SFN), Vagator, Anjuna, Goa.
The Educational Institutions based in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa are
Sacred Heart of Jesus High School, Anjuna, Goa and St Michael’s Convent High School, Anjuna, Goa run by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The Social Welfare Institutions based in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is the St Michael’s Boarding for Girls, Anjuna, Goa run by the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The Chapel with a Chaplain in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is Our Lady of Health Chapel, Mazalvaddo, Goa. The Chaplain of Our Lady of Health Chapel, Mazalvaddo, Goa is Fr Constancio Mendes SFX.
The Chapels without Chaplains in the Parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa are
Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Chinvar, Anjuna, Goa
St Anthony Chapel, Praias, Anjuna, Goa
Holy Cross Chapel, Chapora, Anjuna, Goa
St John the Baptist Chapel, Gaunvaddi, Anjuna, Goa
The number of Catholics in the parish of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is 7,000.
The Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa is celebrated on 2nd October every year.
The Address of The Anjuna Church is St. Michael the Archangel Church, Anjuna, Goa 403509.
The Pilar Fathers at Anjuna,
Along the Northern coastline of Goa lies a beautiful village embedded with scenic beauty surrounded by hillocks densely populated with greenery laced with open lands once cultivated for paddy crop, a place called Anjuna. The place made famous due to the birth of Ven Fr. Agnelo D’Souza.
The Catholic population of Anjuna has always been a participatory group of people in all its activities and further impetus was given when the parish of St. Michael’s Church was handed over to the missionaries of Pilar in the year 1996. Rev Fr. Lino Florindo S.F.X. was appointed the first Pilar father to be the Parish Priest of St. Michaels church Anjuna. The Parish is today one of the most vibrant parishes in the diocese of Goa.
The Pilar missionaries at the Anjuna Parish are led by the able leadership of Fr Thomas Gonsalves S.F.X. and supported by Fr. Ivo Fernandes S.F.X. the assistant to the Parish Priest. Chaplain Fr Constance Mendes S.F.X. and Fr. A.P. Vas S.F.X., the local delegate superior.
The way of the Cross at the Miraculous cross on the hillock where the faithful from the neighbouring villages as far as Mapusa, Siolim and Calangute participate with great devotion and sacrifice is an annual feature.
The missionaries pay a lot of attention to the spiritual needs of the faithful with periodical formations, retreats, recollections, to enhance every heart towards Christ.
On the Social front, the annual felowship fete brings together people of different faiths together in celebration of love and fellowship where people cook, eat perform and celebrate together during the summer.
The missionaries do not have a school of their own but the parish school of Sacred Heart of Jesus High School, Anjuna run by the Diocesan Society of education in managed by the Parish Priest Fr Thomas Gonsalves S.F.X. This has given the Parish Priest the advantage of not only pasturing the Catholics but to reach out in loving service to all religions without any discrimination.
The Anjuna Local House with Fr. Thomas Gonsalves as the local superior is the house of the Pilar society which oversees the works of the missions of Birondem, Changad -(Belgaum), Penha De Franca and Anjuna.