This page offers an original, human‑tone overview of St Sebastian Church at Aquem Alto, Margao, based on parish sources and historical references, carefully paraphrased.
Basic profile
- Location: Aquem Alto, Margao, South Goa, India (403601).
- Dedication: St Sebastian.
- Portuguese name: São Sebastião Igreja em Aquem, Goa.
- Parish size: Around 3,700 Catholics.
Origins and parish formation
The church at Aquem has roots in a much older chapel dedicated to St Sebastian, commonly remembered locally as Punddam Kopel. Historical references suggest that the first chapel may date to the sixteenth century and that the site was linked to early Jesuit missionary activity in Salcete.
For a long period the Aquem chapel remained affiliated to the parish of Navelim. It was only on 3 November 2002 that the chapel was elevated into an independent parish church under the title of St Sebastian, reflecting the growth of the Catholic community in the Aquem–Margao area.
A new church building was later constructed next to the old chapel and inaugurated in 2009, giving the parish a more spacious modern structure for worship and community life.
Feast and liturgical life
The feast of St Sebastian Church is celebrated on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, though some directories also note a parish feast date in mid‑February. The church maintains an active Mass schedule with multiple Sunday services, including Konkani and English liturgies.
Present significance
Today, St Sebastian Church is one of the notable newer parishes of the Margao region. Its development from an old chapel into a full parish church shows how urban expansion around Margao gave rise to new centres of Catholic life while preserving older devotional traditions.