Location :
Old Goa, Panaji
Built In : 1627
Architectural Style :European Style
When To Go : September - November
Positioning of The Church
While heading towards the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, is another
church known as the Church and Convent of St Monica. Known as the Royal
monastery in the past, the building is now used by by the Mater dei
Institute as a nunnery.
History
The construction of the Convent and the Church of St. Monica was embarked
in 1606 and completed in 1627. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1636
and re-constructed the following year. The Church was originally built
between the period of 1606-1627. The fire which broke down caused a lot of
damage in 1636, so, this was the reason it had to be rebuilt.
Beauty of The Church
This beautiful structure is designed in European style. The high walls of
the compound are very inticing and are embellished with exclusive designs.
It is a huge three-storeyed building of laterite, which was originally
lime-plastered, but is now plastered with cement. It has a square structure
with a spacious inner courtyard, surrounding a verandah with numerous cells
and halls. The domed type ceilings are painted effectively with floral
decorations and scenes from the Holy Bible.
A House For Nuns
The Convent of St. Monica boasts of being India's largest nunnery.
Moreover, it also serves as Asia's largest training center for Catholic
nuns. At present, this building serves as the Master Dei Institute used by
nuns, for their theological studies.
Classes of Nuns 
The Convent was specified not only for the nuns called daughters of St.
Monica (mother of St. Augustine), but also for the widows (who wanted to
commit themselves to the service of God) and for the protection of the
ladies whose husbands were in remote lands guarding the Portuguese Empire.
However, there were two classes of nuns: those with the black veil or choir
nuns were named Madres (only the daughters of an European father or mother
could belong to this class), and those with white veils or Rosario nuns were
named Sorores, who were natives. The Government, had urged to abolish the
difference between these, but nobody listened and the classes continued.
Many beautiful and useful activities were carried on by the nuns of the
convent like the art of making artificial flowers or excellence in cooking.
They were also proficient in making preserves of fruits, syrups and sweets.
Their gardens bloomed wonderfully with beautiful and aromatic flowers. They
farmed the best of fruits and a variety of vegetables.
How To Reach
You can enjoy driving comfortably on NH 4A, which begins as the Ribander
Causeway, runs east along the Mandovi River and extends south-east to Ponda.
