St Anne Church in Bodiem is a parish church with a modest beginning and a long local life. It started as a small chapel, grew into a parish, and remains an important part of the Catholic community in Bodiem and nearby villages.
Basic profile
- Location: Bodiem, Tivim, Bardez taluka, North Goa, India 403502.
- Dedication: St Anne.
- Portuguese name: Santa Ana Igreja em Bodiem, Goa.
- Popular name: The Bodiem Church.
- Parish size: Around 362 Catholics.
History
The church began as a primitive chapel built in 1801. The site for the chapel was offered by the communidade of Aldona, and the chapel was originally linked to the parish of Tivim.
Later, the chapel was raised to the status of a parish church on 15 March 1946. That change gave Bodiem its own parish identity and a more active role in the life of the area.
Church and parish life
The parish is served by the Carmelite Religious of Trivandrum, based at St Thomas Villa in Bodiem. Their presence gives the parish a strong spiritual and pastoral focus.
The parish community is small, but it is active. The church serves local families and also supports village life through worship, catechism and parish gatherings.
Feast and devotion
The parish feast of St Anne is celebrated on the second Tuesday of May every year. It is the main feast of the church and an important day for the people of Bodiem.
Regular Sunday and weekday Masses keep the church lively through the year, not only at feast time.
Address
- Address: St Anne Church, Bodiem, Tivim, Goa 403502.
Present significance
Today, St Anne Church at Bodiem remains a small but steady parish church with a clear village identity. Its 1801 chapel origin and 1946 parish status make it one of the notable churches in the Tivim area.