How the Jesuits made a mark in Goa

Iris Gomes

THE ORIGIN

St Ignatius of Loyola, a former soldier who had turned his life over to Christ, founded the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, along with St Francis Xavier and St Peter Faber in 1539.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | St Ignatius of Loyola | Photo: Ananth Subray (Wikipedia)

FIRST AMONG THE JESUITS

St Francis Xavier is synonymous with Goa. The decennial exposition of his incorruptible body will be held in Old Goa from November 21, 2024, to January 5, 2025.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | St Francis Xavier

AT THE IBADAT KHANA

Blessed Rodolfo Acquaviva, SJ served at Akbar the Great's Ibadat Khana (House of Worship) from 1580 to 1583. After he came to Goa, he died in the Cuncolim Revolt of 1583.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | Rodolfo Acquaviva | Akbar the Great

GATEWAY TO LEARNING

This is all that remains of St Paul's College, once a seminary (the College of Holy Faith (Santa Fe) that the Jesuits were given charge of and later became the main headquarters of the Jesuits in Asia.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | St Paul's College | Gate | Photo: Hemant192 (Wikipedia)

GOA'S ONLY BASILICA

The Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site was built between 1594 and 1605 by the Jesuits. It houses the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | Basilica of Bom Jesus | Photo: Sanju71821 (Wikipedia)

ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE

The first printing press in India was set up at the Jesuit St Paul's College in 1556 in Old Goa.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | Theology books | Photo: Frederick Noronha (Wikipedia)

CONTRIBUTION TO KONKANI

Fr Thomas Stephens, an English Jesuit, composed the first Konkani grammar and has an institution, Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, Porvorim, named after him in Goa.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | Thomas Stephens | Photo: Goa Jesuit Province

EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP

The Jesuits have contributed vastly to education and scholarship in Goa with institutions like the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim, and schools like Loyola High School, Margao.

Society of Jesus | Jesuits | Goa | History | Jesuit Emblem | Photo: Trinidade (Wikipedia)

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