About Mary Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim
The Mary Immaculate Conception Church was one of the first church to be built in Goa. The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is placed on the hillside. To reach the Church , one has to climb 100 steps arranged in a majestic fashion. Standing on the gallery of the church, you can see the entire view of the lovely Panjim city. The huge bell on the belfry once belonged to the Monastery of St. Augustine, Old Goa, and is second in size only to the Golden Bell of the Se Cathedral at Old Goa.
The interior of the church is also beautiful.The main altar is honored to Mary Immaculate, and it has two more altars, on the left is Jesus crucified and to the right is Our Lady of the Rosary. On the both sides there are two marble statues, one of St. Peter and one of St. Paul. On the right of the main altar in the south transept there is a Chapel of St. Francis Xavier.
The feast of The Immaculate Conception is celebrated every year on 8th Dec. There is a 3 day fete where people from all walks of life come to witness the sheer splendor of the Church. During the feast the whole church is beautifully decorated inside and the exterior is very artfully lit. Novenas are celebrated everyday during the week before the feast.
