Humble beginnings

St. Clara’s Church

The Christians of Assonora remained under Thivim from the inception. In course of time a chapel dedicated to St. Clara of Assisi was erected. Msgr. Gomes Catao relates the following as its origin: Tradition relates that a Franciscan Friar after having spent the greater part of his life in the mission of the Ghats, on his return to Goa, was taken up with the healthy situation of the village of Assonora and charmed with the picturesque beauty of the place, he wanted to rest there from his labours. On the spot where the present Church stands, he built a modest house, with a chapel attached to it, with the intention of continuing his apostolic work there. It was definitely built before 1768. Unfortunately the records do not give the name of this Friar.

At this time the Portuguese were constantly at war with the Bounsulo (Maratha Chieftain of Sawantwaddi) and other Maratha chieftain of Karveer (Malwan) and Kolapur. Since Assonora is situated to the North-East  of Bardez, it lay on the border, as at that time, most of the territory of the talukas of Pernem, Satari and Sanquelim was ruled by those chieftains. During these battles, therefore, the chapel of Assonora was burnt down in 1781, the villagers rebuilt it with slightly bigger dimension and extended still more the next time in 1784. By that time, the above three talukas had been conquered by the Portuguese and become the territory, as mentioned above.