Sacred 'Heart' Church - Who's Heart?

Looming over a crowded area, yet isolated from its noisy surroundings, the Sacred Heart Church is originally a Roman Catholic Church built for the Portuguese community of Kolkata.

• Address - 3, Lenin Sarani Rd, Esplanade, Kolkata - 700013.

• Founded on - 1832.

The Principle behind

It is also known as the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. It follows a widely practiced Roman catholic devotion principle by invoking Jesus's physical Heart as the symbol of his love for humanity.

The Christian art depicts sacred heart as a flaming one. It is shinned with divine light, pierced by lance wound, encircled by the crown of thorn, surmounted by a cross and bleeding.

From pages of history

The Church was founded by Mrs. Pascoa Barrette Desouza of a prominent Portuguese family on 12th February 1832. The gothic structure opened for public on 30th March 1834.

Initially it was a parish (a territorial entity) under the Padroado, the Portuguese right of authority over the Roman Catholic Church in India, established by Papal Bull (1514). This changed in 1844, when the parish was taken under the vicariate (group of parishes) of Rev Joao Corrcia.

Inside-out

The Church has and attached school and a basketball ground. The courtyard host two status that of Jesus and Mothe of Sorrow (Virgin Mary).

The prayer chambers have walls decorated with paintings depicting life and struggle of Jesus. There is also a stone altar with golden cross.