In the heart of the picturesque town of Tivim, nestled in the Bardez region of Goa, India, a profound and unwavering devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour has been flourishing for generations. Every Wednesday, the town comes alive with an outpouring of faith and hope as devotees from all walks of life gather to partake in the novena prayers and Eucharist celebration.
The tradition of Wednesday novena prayers at Tivim’s St Christopher’s Church has become a spiritual cornerstone for the people of Goa. What sets this devotion apart is its inclusivity; people of all faiths, from every corner of Goa, are drawn to this sacred place. They come with their hearts heavy with burdens and their souls filled with desires, seeking solace and blessings from the divine.
The devotion has earned a reputation for miracles and answered prayers. Many attest to being healed, both physically and spiritually, and receiving the favours they earnestly sought. The stories of these miraculous occurrences continue to inspire others to make the pilgrimage to Tivim.
In a world often divided by differences, the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at Tivim stands as a testament to the power of faith and unity. It is a place where hope is rekindled, burdens are lightened, and believers find solace in the loving embrace of Our Lady. Every Wednesday, the faithful reaffirm their belief in the extraordinary, making Tivim a beacon of devotion and a sanctuary for seekers of all backgrounds.
Fr Mariano Silveira is the parish priest of St Christopher Church, Tivim for six years, “I am very happy to be in the church as we celebrate 400 years of the church. The people are very supportive and encouraging and we have planned a lot of activities. For the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, we will be having a Walking Pilgrimage where parishioners from all 18 wards will come walking to the church. In the evening, there will be Roseferns new tiatr, ‘Dev Tumkam Bhogsum’,” says Fr Mariano.
The Novena will be held from October 16 to 24 with the first Mass with Daily Rosary at 6.20 am followed by Novena Mass at 6.45 am, second Mass with Rosary at 8.30 am followed by Novena Mass at 9 am and third Mass with Rosary at 3.40 pm followed by Mass at 4 pm. On the Feast day, Masses will be at 6.30 am, 8 am, High Mass at 9.30 am and 4 pm.
St. Christopher’s Church, Tivim, celebrates 400 Years (Quadricentennial)
The church of St Christopher, in Tivim celebrates 400 years of existence this year. It was consecrated in 1623 as a church and was built with funds collected by the Gaunkars of Tivim, Sirsaim and Assonora. The original construction was damaged by fire and was rebuilt in 1685. The year mentioned on the Coat of Arms on the Façade is 1627. The Coat of Arms includes the ‘Chagas’ or the five wounds of Jesus Christ. The church is dedicated to St Christopher, the Martyr-Saint who had the unique distinction of carrying the child Jesus on his shoulders and of experiencing the “weight of the world”. The name St Christopher, means “Carrier o Christ” (Krist Vorpi) and St Christopher has become the Patron Saint of all travellers.
In 1927, Dr Angelo D’Souza from Siolim, and a practicing physician in Tivim, presented to the parish a large and artistic altar dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. In May, 1951, a newly ordained priest, Fr Innocencio Correa was suddenly and miraculously cured of a deadly haemorrhage which was draining his life away, after he prayed with supreme confidence to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour to cure him. He vowed to spread the devotion to Our Lady, wherever he was posted.
After serving in Guirim as the assistant parish priest and starting the devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour there, he was posted to Tivim and it was in the church of St Christopher wherein his own words, he wrote, “It was the church of Tivim which Our Lady of Perpetual Succour has chosen to be the hallowed spot of her predilection where she would shower her graces on her clients and where I would fulfill integrally the promise I made to her in a moment of dire affliction.”
When Fr Correa arrived in Tivim in June 1955 he must have been surprised to see an altar already dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This is a unique altar, the like which is not seen in any other church in Goa. And this is what might have given him that extra stimulus to spread the Devotion of Our Lady. The Wednesday Novenas to Our Lady first started in July 1955. Since then the devotion has spread to the four corners of Goa with literally thousands of affected and many more thousands of petitions granted by the Heavenly Mother.