Of all churches in Goa, remarkable and ostentious because of its exceptional structure is the fact of St Anne. It had been re-built by Mons Francisco do Rego with the contributions of some villagers and using his own funds. Sadly he could not finish the job so the onus befell on Fr Antonio Francisco da Cunha for its completion which he did in 1965. The primary altar is consecrated to St Anne.
The priest who had been living in the area was entrusted for the conversions of the villagers of Talaulim and Moula made a decision to build a tiny hermitage though he neglected to consecrate the same in honour of any known saint.
Yet a ‘Gaokar’ Bartalomeu Marchon stated he saw an old woman coming down the hill using a walking cane as well as a hat and asserted that the hermitage was her abode and wanted to set her reisdenced threin.
Not realizing the name of the woman the priest propagated in the village the case that was reported. On hearing relating to this event, an old Brahmin woman, maintained that when she was severely sick the same old lady appearded to her in her dreams and held her hand to rise from her afflicted bed and stated that her name was Anne and needed a house in the village.
The result of the dream was her miraculous cure and her amazing treatment which precipitated the priest to confess that the Church was consecrated to St Anne.
This is a recorded fact that though their Christian festivals were introduced by the Portuguese, the Goans changed these festivals to befit their seasons without changing the dates.
The ‘Touceachem Fest’ is a well attended festival by individuals of walks of life and communities who beseech the venerable saint with various offerings to comply with their most fervent wishes. Devotees state the blessings in all the cases are granted.
The Church of St Anne at Talaulim could be termed as the masterpiece of the Baroque design that was Indian. It’s touching to see that this commendable church is in a pretty derelict state at this present time.
