Our Lady of Fatima ChurchMolkod

Fatima Mandir or the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Molkod has an interesting past. Though the origins of how Christians came to live on this idyllic but difficult to approach island are woven round many tales. What is known of its recent past is that it was part of Honavar Parish. The small Chapel, which existed, served the purpose when the Priest from Honavar made his rounds for Mass and other spiritual exercises. The people of Molkod take pride in the fact that the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Church is a gift from the Patriarch of Goa in 1934 who was on his pastoral visit from Honavar to Samsi in the company of the Honavar Parish Priest, Fr. Remedios Rosario Gomes. The Patriarch was moved to see the people of Molkod village lined up in great crowds on the bank of the river. He insisted on paying a visit to the village and behold he was much impressed to see the simple hearted and humble people. He promised them a Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which he eventually sent on his return to Portugal. The Statue was installed in the Chapel on 13th Jan. 1936, on which day the annual feast of the Church is now being celebrated every year.