Our Lady of Grace Church

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is known by many titles. A few names are dogmatic while others are derived from popular art and poetry. Our Lady of Grace Church, referred to as Nossa Senhora da Graca in Portuguese, sings the hymn of 'Ave Maria Gratia Plena' or 'Hail Mary Full of Grace', based on Sir William Scott's famous poem 'The Lady of the Lake' from the early 19th century. This church was once a military chapel and was known as Capela de Batalhao. If you have been to St Augustine's Tower in Old Goa, you would remember the ruins of its church that was known by the same title. While those ruins date back a few centuries, this church in Margao is modern (built in 1970) and celebrates its annual feast on the first Sunday of February.

The Our Lady of Grace Church is located opposite the walkway dissecting the Municipal Garden and the Aga Khan Park. Given its unassuming entrance, a gated staircase flanked by retails outlets, it may easily be overlooked; especially if you are walking on the same eastern side of the garden. As you scale the stairs, observe a statue of Mary with folded hands to the right (south) and a large colorful mural on the exterior wall of the church. The church conducts mass service in Konkani in the mornings (6:30 AM, 7:15 AM, 8:50 AM) and evenings (5:40 PM) on weekdays with an additional service in English on Sunday mornings at 9:15 AM. If you have a confession to make, go before or after the mass on weekdays (till 10 AM or 6:30 PM).