Calangute MLA Joins Faithful as 200-Year-Old Saipem Chapel Reopens After Renovation
Candolim: The centuries-old Chapel of Nossa Senhora De Desterro in Saipem wore a fresh look on Tuesday as locals gathered for the blessing ceremony marking the end of its months-long restoration, with Calangute MLA Michael Lobo joining the community in prayer.
The chapel, believed to be over 200 years old and dedicated to Our Lady of Desterro, had shown signs of structural wear, seepage, and fading azulejo tiles. The restoration covered roof repair, replastering, repainting, altar restoration, and lighting upgrades while retaining its Indo-Portuguese architecture.
Villagers said the chapel is a cultural landmark for Saipem’s Catholic families, hosting the annual feast, novenas, and weddings. “This isn’t just a building. It’s where our grandparents prayed,” said a chapel committee member.
Addressing the gathering after the blessing, the Calangute MLA said he was “honoured to support a restoration that keeps faith and community together.” He added, “Places like Desterro chapel bind generations. May it continue to inspire devotion and unity
.”Unlike routine paint jobs, the project involved heritage masons to restore lime plaster, wooden rafters, and the facade without altering the original elevation.
The chapel committee raised part of the funds through local donations, with the MLA’s contribution helping close the gap for specialised work.
In Bardez’s coastal belt, small chapels like Desterro often anchor ward-level identity and social life. Their upkeep relies on community effort and timely support from public representatives. Locals said the restored chapel would now be ready for the May feast and monsoon services without leaks or safety concerns. The chapel will reopen for daily prayer this week. The committee plans to document its history with old photographs and oral accounts from elders.
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