Church plans to start charitable clinic under Caritas at Hospicio

Team Herald

MARGAO In order to continue with the charitable health care services, a request has come forward from the Church to hand over the custody of old Hospicio (Hosipcio Do Sagrdo Coracao De Maria) to Holy Spirit Church, Margao. 

In a letter to the Directorate of Health Services, the Church authority has requested the custody of a portion of the old Hospicio, especially the area in the vicinity of Chapel located inside the compound. 

Church authorities have expressed their plans to start a charitable clinic under Caritas. 

“After the decision by the Goa government to have another hospital; South Goa District Hospital’ and since this new hospital was commissioned, the Hospicio has lost its importance and was defunct”, said Fr Amandio Valladares, Vicar of Holy Spirit Church, Margao. 

He further stated that the Church will ensure that this once great institution will run in the same way it was originally run by its founder, Diocesan Priest late Fr Antonio Joao Miranda and later his socios/trustees. 

In brief, the history of the Hospicio goes way back to the year 1867, in which, a prominent son of Margao, Fr  Antonio Joao de Miranda conceived the idea of HOSPICIO on seeing the plight of the poor and sick people dying on the streets of Margo with no hospital facilities and he decided to put up a Hospital which would cater to the needs of the society specially the needy on a charitable basis.

The functioning of the Hospicio during the Portuguese rule and then under the rule of the Government of India, was quite successful, run by a Trust. However later on, unfortunately, the Trust could not manage the Administration of this hospital and it was subsequently taken over by the Government of Goa to provide medical care to public at large in accordance with the provisions of the statutes. 

The Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman enacted an Act called the HOSPICIO DO SAGRADO CORACAO DE MARIA HOSPITAL (MARGAO) ACT 1969, stated Fr Valladares. 

It has been informed that the mortal remains of Fr Antonio Joao de Miranda who expired on January 20, 1891, was transferred from the Holy Spirit Church to the Chapel existing in the promises of Hospício Do Sagrado Coração de Maria Hospital, Margao and is now in a niche there to this day.