The chapel of Uguem will be elevated to the status of a parish church on October 20, 2026. His Eminence Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, will bless the new church during the Holy Mass at 10:00 AM on that day. For the past twenty-five years, it was the dream of the Catholic people of Uguem for their chapel to become a church, and that dream is finally being fulfilled. Both Molcornem and Uguem chapels were functioning as independent chapels under the Sanguem parish. For the last twenty-five years, the people of Uguem, along with their priests, made persistent efforts to gain the status of a church for the Uguem chapel, and finally, God heard their prayers and granted them success.
The foundation of the Uguem chapel was laid in the year 1828 by a society called Sociedade Patriotica dos Baldios das Novas Conquistas de Uguem. The Portuguese administrators had given some lands in the Novas Conquistas taluka to the Sociedade Patriotica dos Baldios to settle. From the revenue generated from these lands, they were expected to help promote the Christian faith in this region. Seeing the spiritual needs of the Christians in Uguem, the society built the Uguem chapel and dedicated it to Nossa Senhora de Piedade (Our Lady of Piety).
Fr. Caetano Custodio do Rosario Barretto was the first missionary priest to come and work in the Novas Conquistas area. Fr. Antonio Francis Xavier Alvares and the catechist Francisco Antonio Da Costa were members of his community. All three came to reside at the Uguem chapel in the year 1873. The Sociedade handed over the Uguem chapel into their care. However, due to internal disagreements, their association split, and all three left the Uguem chapel to go to different places. Later, more priests joined Fr. Barretto’s community, one of whom was Fr. Jose Mariano Clement Bento Martins. However, when Fr. Barretto’s community failed to sustain itself and shut down, Fr. Jose Mariano Clement Bento Martins established his own , which is now known as the of Pilar.
In the beginning and periodically, diocesan priests served at the Uguem chapel. But later, when the Sanguem mission work was handed over to the Pilar , priests from the Pilar began to be appointed to the Uguem chapel. Below is the list of priests who served as Chaplains and Assistant Chaplains at the Uguem chapel:
1950 – 1951 : Fr. Gregorio Martins (Dioc.)
1951 – 1952 : Fr. Aureliano Rodrigues (SFX)
1952 – 1953 : Fr. Mariano Pereira (SFX)
1953 – 1955 : Fr. Camilo dos Remedios (Dioc.)
1955 – 1956 : Fr. Minguelinho Braganza (Dioc.)
1956 – 1962 : Fr. Piedade Andrade (Dioc.)
1963 – 1967 : Fr. Menino Almeida (SFX) | Assistant: Bro. Inacio Souza
1967 – 1973 : Fr. Leopoldino Dias (SFX)
1973 – 1976 : Fr. Manuel Dias (SFX)
1976 – 1977 : Fr. Pio Roque Fernandes (SFX)
1977 – 1981 : ———————————
1981 – 1986 : Fr. Aureliano Rodrigues (SFX) (Passed away at the chapel on Aug 4, 1986)
1986 – 1989 : Fr. Lawrence Fernandes (SFX)
1989 – 1999 : Fr. Agostinho D’Mello (SFX)
1999 – 2001 : Fr. Pio Furtado (SFX) Assistant: Fr. Marshal Soares (SFX)
2001 – 2010 : Fr. Joaquim Fernandes (SFX) Assistants: Fr. Marshal Soares (SFX), Fr. Francisco Ferrão (SFX)
2010 – 2013 : Fr. Agapito D’Cunha (SFX) Assistant: Fr. John Crisostomo D’Souza (SFX)
2013 – 2016 : Fr. Pascoal Fernandes (SFX) Assistant: Fr. John Crisostomo D’Souza (SFX)
(Passed away at the chapel on Dec 8, 2015)
2016 – 2018 : Fr. Milagres Barretto (SFX) Assistants: Fr. Constancio Mendes (SFX), Fr. Abel Fernandes (SFX) (2018)
2018 – 2024 : Fr. Abel Fernandes (SFX) Assistants: Fr. Nascimento Vency Fernandes (SFX) (2018), Fr. Titus Colaco (2019–2020), Fr. Pascoal Fernandes (2021)
2024 – Present : Fr. Ivo Fernandes (SFX) Assistant: Fr. Pascoal Fernandes
Fr. Aureliano Rodrigues was the first priest from the Pilar to reside at the Uguem chapel in 1951. Later, he returned as chaplain in 1981. On August 4, 1986, Fr. Aureliano passed away while serving at the Uguem chapel.
Fr. Menino Almeida – During his chaplaincy, when Bro. Inacio Souza was his assistant, a primary school was started in Uguem in the year 1963. Bro. Inacio Souza worked very hard to bring the children of Uguem to education. He also inspired the youth in sports. The football ground present in Uguem village today was acquired for the youth of Uguem largely due to his efforts. He had to fight a long struggle with the Sociedade to acquire this ground.
Fr. Leopoldino Dias built the Uguem cemetery, tiled the chapel, and brought electricity. Earlier, funerals of Uguem residents were conducted at the Sanguem cemetery. Carrying a body on shoulders to Sanguem, 4 kilometers away, was very difficult, and he made this convenient.
Fr. Pio Roque Fernandes (Boyer) tried to sow the seeds of faith among the people. He had a plan to build a community hall in Funtemoll ward and offer Mass services to the people there, as scooter and car ownership was rare back then, allowing local access to Mass; however, he did not succeed. The large thatched-roof house (mangor) he built in Funtemoll ward was demolished by the Sociedade as the land belonged to them. Even today, that open plot is known as Padrichem Foll.
Fr. Agostinho D’Mello took up the work of constructing a new building for the Uguem chapel in 1992 and completed it in 1995. The late Most Rev. Raul N. Gonsalves, Archbishop Emeritus of Goa and Daman, blessed the new building. He also installed a large bell for the chapel.
Fr. Pio Furtado first planted the dream of elevating the Uguem chapel into a church in the minds of the people of Uguem and started working toward that direction. He floated lotteries to collect funds and brought enthusiasm and zeal among the people for the chapel’s work. With the labor of the people, he built a stage in front of the chapel and brought two large statues using funds raised by the people—one of Jesus on the Cross and the other of Our Lady of Piety. He also started a kindergarten in Uguem.
Fr. Joaquim Fernandes built a new residential building for the priests, along with a new primary school building and a hall above it. He enlarged small ward crosses and built chapels over them. In 2005, he brought the Pilar Sisters to Uguem. He helped them acquire land in Funtemoll ward and provided immense support for them to build their convent.
Fr. Agapito D’Cunha, while serving as the Dean of Sanguem and Chaplain of Uguem, worked extensively to foster unity among the people. He actively spearheaded the effort to get church status for the Uguem chapel.
Over the last twenty-five years, several other priests who served as chaplains of Uguem carried forward the work to get the status of a church for the Uguem chapel. Due to their efforts and those of all the people of Uguem, the Uguem chapel is finally receiving the status of a church. Fr. Ivo Fernandes, the present chaplain, is truly fortunate because the Uguem chapel is becoming a church during his tenure.
Under the Uguem chapel, there are currently 14 Small Christian Communities and almost all parish associations such as Youth, Legion of Mary, MFC, St. Vincent de Paul, Divine Mercy, and the Catechists’ group. There is a large residence of the Pilar Sisters in Uguem village, along with their Play School. In previous years, three sisters worked here, whereas four sisters are working this year. Two sons of Uguem have become priests and one is a brother. Additionally, six daughters of Uguem have become religious sisters, while one is undergoing Novitiate.
In the Uguem chapel, two priests have traditionally been appointed—one chaplain and one assistant; this year, the Pilar has also sent a brother to Uguem. All liturgical rituals take place here, such as Christmas Mass, Santos Passos, Good Friday, Easter Feast, New Year, etc. Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings, Funerals, daily Masses, and Memorial Masses have been ongoing since earlier times.
The Christian community of Uguem numbers over one thousand, and when the Valkini chapel comes under the Uguem church, the population will increase by about three hundred. Bhati, Tudov, and Maullingem will also come under the Uguem church.
As the Uguem chapel takes this historic step on October 20, 2026, the credit goes to all the priests who worked in Uguem village. They made sacrifices, shed sweat, and endured much to water and nurture the seed planted two hundred years ago. Credit also goes to the faithful of Uguem, who stood shoulder to shoulder with their pastors, provided financial and physical support, offered prayers to God, and finally, God blessed their efforts.
Written by: Victorino S. Colasso
Parishioner of Uguem