Santa Rita de Cássia Church, Colonial church in Paraty, Brazil.

Santa Rita de Cássia Church stands on a square facing Paraty Bay. The complex of church, consistory, sacristy, cemetery and garden courtyard is built of stone and lime. Its colonial Jesuit-style facade has stone pilasters, carved wooden doors, a curved pediment and ironwork on the three choir balconies; the bell tower carries a copper weathervane rooster.

The church was built by the Irmandade de Santa Rita dos Pardos Libertos and consecrated on 30 June 1722 under the invocation of Menino Deus, Santa Rita and Santa Quitéria, with padre Manoel Braz Cordeiro as vicar. In the 18th century it served as matriz while the Matriz de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios was in poor condition. It was listed by IPHAN in 1952 and restored between 1967 and 1976.

The church was built for Paraty's free pardos (people of mixed African and European descent), and the brotherhood that erected it in 1722 was named for them. Its feast of Santa Rita has been held here since the founding, with processions, masses, litanies and hymns; after six years in the Matriz during restoration works, it returned to this church. A committee of young parishioners prepares it over the year.

The building welcomes visitors and remains an active parish church with regular services. Plan your visit during daytime hours and dress respectfully, as services may be in progress.

The bell tower is topped by a copper weathervane in the shape of a rooster, a detail easily missed from the square below. The church also served as Paraty's parish church in the 18th century, replacing the old mother church while it was in poor condition.