Hospicio – a monumental work of a great visionary: Padre Miranda

Jose Maria Miranda

Among the prominent venerable and centenarian institutions we have in our small State, the Hospicio do Sagrado Coracao de Maria in Margao stands out as one which can justifiably be proud of having fulfilled, particularly in times gone by, the pressing need to shelter and give medical relief to the poor ailing people of South Goa. This initiative was the brainchild of a Margao born priest, Fr Antonio Joao de Miranda, better known as Padre Miranda, whose heart was ablaze with love and compassion of his fellowmen, dying on the streets and footpaths in and around Margao. Moved by this sorry and heart-rending spectacle, Padre Miranda, braving controversies and many odds, published in March 1867, an appeal for donations for the purpose. This was heartily responded by people from all walks of life, not only from Margao but from villages of Salcete and Mormugao talukas. However, it is also said that he encountered stiff refusals and even insults, when he went around with a begging bowl pleading for help for his “daughter” – the proposed shelter for the sick and the dying. This institution had its humble beginnings in a small house, where the present Clergy Home stands, with just ten beds. 

At that time, the Portuguese never felt it its duty to provide shelter or relief to the sick. However, during the 16th century, a welfare institution, the Santa Casa de Misericordia was founded, which had a Hospital, in Old Goa, later transferred to Ribandar in mid 19th century.

The Hospicio survived initially thanks to the alms and donations, as they kept pouring in, in support and appreciation of such a noble initiative. In 1878, the government authorized the issue of lotteries solely to maintain the Hospicio. However, many years later the profits of these lotteries were appropriated also towards the maintenance of hospitals in Ribandar and the Asilo in Mapusa, thus reducing the financial capacity of Hospicio.   

Though the government was regulating and overseeing the affairs of Hospicio, the Managing Committee continued to be headed by Padre Miranda till his death, on 20th January 1891. His funeral is said to have been a real apotheosis, with thousands of people flocking to pay their tribute to a man who proved to be a true visionary and a real Apostle of Charity. He had a brother priest and a sister, who looked after him, but predeceased him. He has no known descendants and the family is said to be extinct. 

The present artistic building, which houses the Hospicio Hospital, was purchased for Rs 13200 from the heirs of J B Catao da Costa and inaugurated in 1905. The adjoining property belonging to Filipe Neri Floriano Alvares, was also purchased simultaneously.

The Albergue (Home for the Aged, in front of the  Hospital) which along with the Sanatorium, the Secretaria (later Nursing School and now Urban Health Centre) are part of Hospicio, was built by the contribution of friends and admirers of Dr Aristides da Costa and inaugurated in 1878.

The Hospicio passed through various vicissitudes, particularly the dissensions among the “socios” or trustees, which demanded the intervention of the government and the suspension of the Managing Committee. 

These Committees, which consisted of “socios” had serious misunderstandings and even quarrels among themselves, which eventually forced the government to take over the administration of Hospicio. While earlier the Hospicio had a few non-Catholic trustees, in 1910, the statutes were changed to allow only Catholics as “socios”. 

The Hospicio has valuable shares and properties in Vasco da Gama, Goa Velha and Sanquelim. It is not known whether these properties still exist or have been encroached upon. 

The entire property from Hospicio till the Chapel of O L of Piety at Monte belongs to Hospicio and so is the area occupied by Junta Quarters of government employees in Pajifondi. It is unfortunate that the Goa government, which usurped all the properties of this private institution, did not utilize the existing property behind the Hospicio, to build the new District Hospital, acquiring unnecessarily fields in an inappropriate location – the National Highway thus adding to the existing congestion. It is, however, true that the “socios”, who took the matter of ownership of Hospicio to the Supreme Court, lost the case. What I was given to understand by my late father, who was also a “socio” of Hospicio, was that the purpose of the case was not to revert the Hospicio to the “socios”, who would never be able to run it, but to ensure some safeguards like prevention of abortions, etc, which are contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Having used the properties of Hospicio in Margao for purposes other than those why the Institution was conceived and built, the government cannot be trusted to maintain the identity, dignity and sanctity of Hospicio, which was primarily to give succour to the poor, needy and abandoned and at the cost of alms and donations for that specific purpose. 

The government must not lose sight of the fact that it used the buildings of Hospicio to fulfil many of its welfare obligations, to the people of South Goa, which it will now do partly through the District Hospital. Hence, it would be in fitness of things to name the new District Hospital, after Padre Miranda, the great and unforgettable Founder of Hospicio. 

The artistic and majestic building which houses the Hospital should also be maintained and preserved, as a tribute to the vision and sacrifices of its founder and the people who came forward to support his noble task. The Chapel attached to the Hospicio ought to be handed over to the Archdiocese for the maintenance of the cult. It will be a great injustice and insult to the people of South Goa if the hospital is demolished or converted into a commercial venture. The people of Margao and surrounding areas will never allow it to happen.

As we joyfully celebrate on Monday 22 Jan at the Hospicio Chapel, 150 years of the foundation of this monumental institution, I pay my humble homage to Padre Miranda, the revered Founder and his associates, whose immense sacrifices and vision brought about one of the greatest works of charity Goa can boast of.