This page offers an original, narrative overview of Our Lady, Mother of God Church (Mae de Deus) in Saligao, North Goa, synthesising parish histories, architectural notes and feast traditions into continuous prose.
Basic profile
- Location: Saligao, Bardez, North Goa, India (along the Chogm road, amidst picturesque Goan countryside).
- Dedication: Our Lady, Mother of God (Mae de Deus / Nossa Senhora, Mae de Deus).
- Foundation stone: 7 February 1867.
- Church completed and blessed: 26 November 1873.
- Architectural style: Neo-Gothic (first church in Goa built in this style).
- Feast day: First Sunday of May each year.
- Catholic population: Approximately 2,650.
- Notable feature: Houses the miraculous 400-year-old statue of Mae de Deus brought from the ruins of the convent at Daugim, Old Goa.
- Institutions: Mae de Deus Home for the Aged (run by Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King).
From chaplaincy of Nagoa to independent parish
Our Lady, Mother of God Church in Saligao traces its origins to the mid-19th century, when the village of Saligao was still a chaplaincy dependent on the parish of Nagoa. Lacking a church nearby, the residents of Saligao sought the support of the Archbishop of Goa to build their own place of worship for the unserved parishioners in the village.
The story behind Saligao church is one of the comunidade (traditional village community organisation) of Saligao coming together to build a place of worship for its Catholic population. The community’s efforts were supported by the Archbishop, and construction of the church began in 1867 when the foundation stone was laid on 7 February.
The church took seven years to build, with stones for its walls sourced with great difficulty from the ruins of the Friary at Daugim village and the Chapel of Boa Vitoria. On 26 November 1873, the Saligao Church was solemnly blessed by the Promoter of Justice and Vicar of Panaji, Fr. Domingos José Rafael Pinto, and opened to the laity as a place of worship. On the same day, Fr. Pinto was appointed the first parish priest of the newly created parish.
The Saligao Church was originally a chapel which was raised to the status of a parochial church in 1873, marking a new phase in the religious life of Saligao and giving the village its own parish centre and pastoral identity.
The miraculous statue of Mae de Deus
The claim to fame and reverence of the Saligao Church is its 400-year-old statue of the Madre de Deus (Mother of God). This gold-painted wooden statue, the work of Goan carpenters and engravers, was once the prized possession of the first Franciscan Friary built in 1569 at Daugim village, in Old Goa. The Friary was eventually dedicated to Madre de Deus, and the statue became a central object of devotion for the friars and the local Catholic community.
In 1835, religious houses fell out of favour with the Portuguese government; their properties and orders were seized and banned. As a result, the church and convent at Daugim lay in ruins, and the statue was left without a proper home. The parishioners of Saligao sought permission to have the statue housed in their new church, but neighbouring parishes protested, objecting to Saligao receiving the honour of having the miraculous Mae de Deus statue kept within it.
There was even talk of protests and marches, to the dismay of Fr. Camilo Teodório Rodrigues, the administrator of the church, who did not want to give up the statue. The issue was finally settled by a Government Order passed on 20 June 1865, which was approved by the King of Portugal, allowing the statue to be transferred to Saligao.
The statue of the Mother of God venerated at the side altar was thus brought from the extinct Convent of Mother of God from Daugim, Old Goa, and has remained in Saligao ever since. The church also holds a second statue from Daugim of the Mother of God made of black stone. Till today, the parish of Saligao maintains historic ties with Daugim by holding pilgrim tours to the original site of the statue, ensuring that the long-deserted village of Daugim lives on through this sacred image.
Neo-Gothic architecture and artistic features
Our Lady, Mother of God Church in Saligao is the first church to be built in the Neo-Gothic style in Goa, making it a rare and breathtaking example of Gothic architecture in the region. The church’s foundation stone was laid in 1867, and the building was completed and blessed in 1873, making it a heritage landmark over 150 years old.
Situated amidst picturesque surroundings of the typical Goan countryside, the church is delightfully visible when one travels along the Chogm road in Saligao. The Neo-Gothic style is characterised by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses and large stained-glass windows, all of which are evident in the design of the Saligao Church.
Inside, the church houses the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus on a side altar, flanked by two other side altars dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Mother Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The church also has a side pulpit from where the priest used to celebrate Mass in earlier times. These days, Mass is celebrated in front of the main altar of the church.
Other sacred relics, including a Blessed Sacrament, draw worshippers to the church, and the gilded interiors create a reverent and awe-inspiring atmosphere for prayer and devotion. After sunset, the structure is illuminated, inspiring passers-by to stop and take pictures of this architectural marvel.
Parish life and liturgy
As the parish church of Saligao, Our Lady, Mother of God has long been the centre of sacramental and communal life for local Catholics. Generations of families in the village have been baptised, married and laid to rest through the parish, embedding the church in the social and spiritual memory of the community.
Regular Masses are celebrated primarily in Konkani, the language most widely used in liturgical and domestic contexts in the region. The church is open to visitors in the morning between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon, and in the afternoon from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, between Mass and other services.
The parish supports catechism classes, youth groups and various devotional associations that maintain a living connection between traditional Catholic practices and the concerns of contemporary life. The parish also runs the Mae de Deus Home for the Aged in Saligao, which is managed by the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King, providing care and support for elderly members of the community.
With a Catholic population reported at around 2,650, Our Lady, Mother of God Parish is a vibrant community within the Bardez region, actively participating in archdiocesan events and maintaining a strong parish life.
Feast of Our Lady, Mother of God
The principal feast of the parish is celebrated on the first Sunday of May each year, honouring Our Lady, Mother of God as the patroness of the church. This date places the feast in the post-summer season, a time when religious and social activity in Goan villages is traditionally high.
In the days leading up to the feast, the church holds a novena – nine days of special Masses, prayers and hymns in honour of Our Lady, Mother of God. The celebrations and Masses on each day are organised by a different ward of Saligao, reflecting the communal nature of the feast and the participation of the entire village.
Each day during the novena, a small group of children are dressed up as angels and they dance before Our Lady and pay homage to her with offerings of flowers. This beautiful tradition adds a sense of innocence and devotion to the celebrations, and the sight of children dressed as angels dancing before the statue of Mae de Deus is a cherished memory for many parishioners.
After the novena, the celebrations are continued with music and short skits, plays or dances performed by the parishioners, creating a festive atmosphere that blends religious devotion with cultural expression. On the feast day itself, celebrations are taken a few notches up with a grand procession followed by a firework display, drawing large crowds of devotees from Saligao and neighbouring villages.
Previously, there was also a dance organised by the Saligao Sports Club, called ‘Foxes Night’, which added to the social and recreational dimension of the feast. Along the procession route, homes may be decorated with flowers and small altars, and people gather to watch the procession pass or join in briefly. The feast blends religious devotion with social celebration, as families share meals, welcome guests and participate in the communal life of the parish.
Local traditions and community identity
In Bardez and across Goa, devotion to Our Lady, Mother of God is widespread, and Saligao is no exception. Mary under this title is invoked not only for spiritual favours but also in connection with practical concerns such as health, family needs and the well-being of the elderly, especially given the presence of the Mae de Deus Home for the Aged in the parish.
Stories of answered prayers and miraculous interventions associated with the 400-year-old statue of Mae de Deus are circulated within the community, reinforcing the belief in Mary’s active presence in the life of the parish. Votive offerings, candles and small tokens of gratitude can often be found in or around the church, testifying to the personal relationships that many parishioners feel they have with Our Lady, Mother of God.
The historic ties with Daugim, maintained through pilgrim tours to the original site of the statue, reflect the parish’s commitment to preserving its historical and spiritual heritage. For many in Saligao, the church is not only a place of worship but also a repository of collective memory and village identity, linked to the story of how the community came together to build their parish church, secure the miraculous statue, and celebrate their faith over more than a century and a half.
Present‑day significance
Today, Our Lady, Mother of God Church continues to serve as the spiritual and communal centre of Saligao. Its history – from a 19th-century chaplaincy of Nagoa to an independent parish with a Neo-Gothic church building, housing a 400-year-old miraculous statue and running a home for the aged – mirrors broader patterns in the development of Catholic communities in Bardez.
For anyone studying Goan churches, Our Lady, Mother of God Church, Saligao, illustrates how a village parish can maintain its distinct identity while participating in the wider archdiocesan network, and how devotion to Mary under a specific title can shape the character of a community over generations. The church’s unique Neo-Gothic architecture, its miraculous statue of Mae de Deus, and its vibrant May feast celebrations make it a notable landmark for both pilgrims and visitors exploring the cultural and spiritual heritage of North Goa.