In this saint, Goa trusts

CELEBRATING A SAINT

The Catholic community in Goa is preparing to commemorate the feast of St Joseph Vaz. Let's take a closer look at the saint's life in Goa and the reverence he received from the people.

MATERNAL HOME

St Joseph Vaz was born on April 21, 1651, and was baptised in the village of Benaulim, situated in South Goa. Today, at the site of his maternal home, there exists a shrine dedicated to him.

PATERNAL HOUSE

His paternal house is in Sancoale, where he studied in a parochial school. During the annual feast, thousands of people visit the house in Sancoale, where a mass is also held.

DEED OF BONDAGE

The book 'St Joseph Vaz For All Times', edited by Aleixo Menezes, mentions about the famous deed of bondage written by St Joseph Vaz at the Church of Our Lady of Good Health in Sancoale of which only the frontispiece remains today.

RIVERINE REVERENCE

Our Lady of Good Health, also called Igreja de Nossa Senhora de Saúde, stands by the banks of the River Zuari. The novenas and the feast mass of St Joseph Vaz take place here.

DEDICATED TO THE SAINT

To commemorate the the second death centenary of  St Joseph Vaz in 1911, a sanctuary was built at Sancoale dedicated to the saint. Devotees come to the sanctuary and intercede through the saint.

IN HIS NAME

At Cruz dos Milagres, in Old Goa, a spiritual renewal centre was established in honor of the saint, offering a space for faithful to enrich their spiritual development through various renewal initiatives.

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