Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, Coloane, Macau 聖方濟各聖堂, 澳门
The Chapel of St. Francis Xavier (Capela de São Francisco Xavier) is an historic church in the pretty village of Coloane, south of Taipa in Macau.
History
The chapel once safeguarded some of the most revered Christian relics in Asia, including the remains of 26 foreign missionaries and Japanese Catholics martyred in Nagasaki in 1597, along with relics of believers killed during the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637 also in Kyushu, Japan.
These relics are now preserved in the Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, which opened in 1996. The chapel also housed a relic of Francis Xavier himself, a bone fragment from his arm. After his death in 1552 on Shangchuan Island, about 80 kilometers from Macau, this relic was later transferred to St. Joseph's Church. The church itself dates from 1928.
Francis Xavier (1506-1552) was one of the founding members of the Jesuit order and a pioneering Catholic missionary in Asia during the 16th century. Sent by the Portuguese crown, he arrived in Goa in 1542 and went on to evangelize in India, Malacca, the Moluccas, and Japan, becoming one of the first Europeans to introduce Christianity there. His missionary approach combined preaching, education, and the establishment of local Christian communities. In 1552, while attempting to enter mainland China, he died on Shangchuan Island off the southern coast. Canonized in 1622, he is regarded as one of the most influential missionaries in Christian history and a key figure in the early spread of Christianity in Asia. He was born near the town of Sangüesa in the Kingdom of Navarre (now part of northern Spain).
Interior
The interior displays a painting of Kun Iam (Guanyin), the Chinese Goddess of Mercy portrayed as the Virgin Mary. The syncretic association highlights a shared reverence for a motherly figure who brings peace, comfort, and protection.
Address & Information
Rua do Caetano, Macao.
The chapel is located on Rua do Caetano in the center of Coloane Village. Other places of interest nearby include several Chinese temples Tin Hau, Kun Iam, Sam Seng and Tam Kung (Tam Kong).
Back in Macau's UNESCO-listed historic district visitors should not miss the historic Senado Square, the iconic Ruinas de Sao Paulo, Macau Museum, the interesting Maritime Museum, A-Ma Temple, Dom Pedro V Theatre, St Lawrence's Church and Macau Cathedral.
Macau Essentials
- For cheap flights to Macau check elong.com. A lot of budget airlines (Bangkok Airways, Jetstar Asia, AirAsia, Tiger Airways etc.) fly to Macau.
Macau International Airport has flights to a number of international destinations worldwide including Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Taiwan and to many other Chinese cities including Beijing, Guangzhou, Guilin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shantou, Xianmen and Xian. - Trains - for non-fliers the best option is to take a train to Hong Kong from Beijing West Railway Station and then a ferry to Macau.
Tip: A cheap / fast way to get from Beijing to Macau is to fly from Beijing to Shenzhen and then take a coach to Hong Kong. The flight from Beijing to Shenzhen is considered domestic and therefore much cheaper compared with flying to Hong Kong direct. - Buses and taxis are the major modes of public transport in Macau. Pedicabs are also available for sightseeing. Macau drives on the right, like the rest of China, except Hong Kong.
- Visas: most passport holders of Western countries receive a free 30 or 90-day visa on arrival. To re-enter China requires a multiple entry Chinese visa, or a valid single/double entry visa.
Accommodation in Macau
Grand Lapa Hotel
For those looking for a comfortable and family friendly hotel, then a hidden gem is the Grand Lapa Hotel which is located directly next to Fisherman's Wharf and the Sands Hotel.
The hotel has undergone a transformation and has elegant interiors as well as some newly renovated hotel rooms. The hotel also has a modern spa, gym facilities and a swimming pool which has a water slide as as well as an outdoor Jacuzzi.
The Grand Lapa Hotel also offers a whole host of organised activities for children so parents can have a break. In terms of dining, visitors can try the Cafe Bela Vista, Naam Thai restaurant and Kam Lai Heen Chinese restaurant. The hotel's breakfast buffet is also very famous and worth sampling.
Address: Grand Lapa, 956 - 1110 Avenida Da Amizade, Macau
Wynn Palace Hotel
For those looking for more glitz and glamour in terms of accommodation then they can book accommodation at one of the most over the top hotels in Macau, namely the Wynn Palace. An incredible and vast structure, not only does the interior mimic the exterior in term of glamour and opulence, the hotel boasts an incredible water show and its own cable car system.
The hotel has a famed buffet and also boasts some international acclaimed restaurants such as Sichuan Moon, SW Steakhouse and Japanese specialities at Mizumi. If visitors love shopping then the Wynn Esplanade is a shopping mecca spread over 106,000 square metres.
Address: Avenida Da Nave Desportiva, Cotai, Macau
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