The Chapel of St Francis Xavier, or Igreja de S. Francisco Xavier, is a small chapel in the small village of Coloane, in southern Macau. It was built in 1928 in the Baroque style. At the pediment of the chapel is its bell tower. The chapel is painted cream and white, a color scheme that is prevalent on most of the colonial buildings in Macau.
When I started writing this article, I cannot decide whether to call it the Church of St Francis Xavier or the Chapel of St Francis Xavier. The roadsign says "church" though most brochures call it "chapel". I think it is more correct to call it chapel, though it is probably interchangeable.
In front of the chapel is a monument commemorating the victory of the locals over pirates in 1910. As the church was only built in 1928, that would make the monument older than the church.
The Chapel of St Francis Xavier's most sacred relic was the bone from the arm of St Francis Xavier, which was kept in a silver reliquary. I said "was" because it had since been moved to the St Joseph's Seminary. St Francis Xavier died on the island of Sanchuan, about 50km from Macau. His relic was intended for Japan, but religious persecution there persuaded the church to move it to Macau. It was initially installed at St Paul's Cathedral. Then, it was moved to St Joseph's and in 1978, to the Chapel of St Francis Xavier. Recently, it has gone back to St Joseph's.
Getting there
Take bus nos. 21 or 26 to Coloane village. The bus will deposit you at the bus stop near the small roundabout. There is a direction signboard pointing the way to the chapel (it states "Church of St. Francis Xavier). From there, walk in the direction of the sea until you reach a coastal promenade. Turn left and walk along the promenade. A short distance down the road, you will see the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier.
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