Towards the west of the Basilica ( Panjim direction) you begin to climb a hill, once called the HOLY HILL. To the left of the road opposite St. Monica's Convent you find the Convent of St. John of Goa.
|
This convent, was repaired by the Portuguese Military Force, stationed there till December 1961 when Goa was liberated by the Indian Army. The Church is dedicated to Nossa Senhora de Bom Sucesso - Our Lady of Good Success. The convent was erected by some members of the Congregation of St. John of God.
|
|
This Congregation was only of the Brothers who looked after the sick in the hospitals; in the beginning eight brothers had arrived in the City of Goa in 1685, sent by Dom Pedro II, King of Portugal. Their superior was Frei Joao do Nascimento.
The brothers worked in several hospitals in and outside India; they lived on alms when the suppression of the religious orders came in 1835, the convent was used as a Hospital for the poor. In 1844, the nuns of the Santa Monica - who still remained in their convent - bought the building for the residence of their chaplains, confessors, etc. In 1850 the roof of the church was removed. The Portuguese Government covered the roof when the soldiers were stationed in that convent.
In May 1964, the Sisters of the Congregation of the Portuguese Franciscan Hospitallers took charge of the old convent, now a home for the aged for women is functioning in that historic convent.
