Church of Saint Francis of Paola, Colonial church in Goiás, Brazil

The Church of Saint Francis of Paola stands on Praça Zacheu Alves de Castro in the historic centre of Goiás, built between 1761 and 1764 in the colonial baroque style of the state. Its façade has a plain pediment and windows with curved mouldings; inside, the gilded carved main altar holds a collection of sacred images, including a sculpture of Saint Francis of Paola attributed to Veiga Valle. The nave ceiling was painted in 1869 by the local artist André Antônio da Conceição with scenes from the saint's life.

Built between 1761 and 1764, the church arose from growing devotion to Saint Francis of Paola and is tied to the Venerable Irmandade do Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos, a confraternity founded in 1745. Since 1863 it has been that brotherhood's canonical seat. In 1950 IPHAN listed the building, and in 2001 the historic centre of Goiás received UNESCO World Heritage status.

The church serves as an active gathering place where the local community participates in regular Catholic services and spiritual practices. It remains central to how people in the region observe their religious traditions and mark important occasions together.

The church stands on Praça Zacheu Alves de Castro in the historic centre of Goiás, a short walk from the other colonial monuments protected by IPHAN since 1950. It remains an active parish temple of the Cathedral of Sant'Ana, so visits should be timed around Masses and the Holy Week rites held by the Irmandade do Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos. Look up at the painted ceiling of 1869 and the gilded main altar inside.

The 1869 ceiling paintings were made under the direction of the Venerable Irmandade do Senhor Bom Jesus dos Passos, founded in 1745, which has held its canonical seat in the church since 1863. The local artist André Antônio da Conceição painted scenes from the life of Saint Francis of Paola.