Sanctuary of the Blessed Joseph Vaz

The Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz was built on the initiative of late Fr. Isidoro Francisco da Cunha and his nephew, late Fr. Telesforo da Purificacao Saldanha, with their own substantial monetary help and donation from devotees in Goa , India and abroad. It was built to commemorate the second death Centenary of Bl Joseph Vaz in 1911.The foundation stone was laid on April 21, 1909. It could not be inaugurated on January 16, 1911 (as initially planned and to paucity of funds) . The Sanctuary was solemnly blessed and opened to cult on July 10, 1922.

It was dedicated to Blessed Joseph Vaz on January 16, 1966. Though originally was planned under the protection of St. Philip Neri (Founder of the Oratorian Order) Blessed Joseph Vaz was declared the Patron of the Archdiocese on June 26, 1999.

The main purpose of the Sanctuary now is to promote the devotion of Blessed Joseph Vaz for praying and working for the advancement of the Cause of Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz .

The numberless devotees of Ven. Fr. Jose Vaz did not find it suitable to allow the Second centenary of his death to pass unnoticed and forgotten. So they decided under the initiative of Late Fr. Cunha to build a Sanctuary on the local where Fr.Vaz's house was situated and also a mobile Catechetical School to strengthen the religious formation of the people.

The idea got very good support and a committee was formed to collect the necessary financial means. Simultaneously the same committee took the necessary steps to buy the property where the house was located and where the Sanctuary would be built. Unfortunately due to unforeseen difficulties it was not possible to fulfill the dream of buying the above-mentioned property because its price was far superior to the available financial means then they were forced to buy different plot of land.

Fr. Custodio Goncalo de Araujo the then Parish Priest of Sancoale, together with Fr. Cunha and many devotees made the necessary request to the ecclesiastical authorities to carry on the Project. His Grace the Patriarch D. Teotonio, at the time Bishop of Meliapur and Governor of the Archdiocese of Goa gave the necessary permission and strongly recommended a very special devotion to Ven. Fr.Joseph Vaz through his Portaria of 5th August 1908.

Unfortunately the money collected thorough donations was hardly sufficient just to dig the foundations in spite of Fr. Cunha and his worthy nephew Fr. Telesforo da Saldhana having spent from their own pockets substantial sums of money (Rs.2000 & Rs. 500 Resp.)

The project was grandiose and it would've been a shame to give it up once work had been started. That is why, Fr. Euclides Rogaciono Dias helped by his brother Durante Antonio Dias managed to revive the campaign for donation to carry forward the building work, complete the main chapel (Caplea-Mor) and the main Altar and on July 10th 1922, the solemn blessing was performed, duly authorized by the ecclesiastical authorities and the Sanctuary was thrown open for the public cult. It was dedicated to St. Filipe Neri founder of the Oratorian Congregation by the Rev. Dean of Verna Fr. Manuel Francisco das Prazeres de Almeida. On the 16 January of the following year, the death anniversary of the Venerable missionary, the first Mass was celebrated in the Sanctuary.

Today, a lot of people come to the Sanctuary and Fr. Joseph Vaz much remembered. His intercession is acknowledged by the faithful with particular devotion. There are constant mentions of serious illnesses having been cured through his intercession.

Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, 413 Blessed Joseph Vaz Road, P. O. Cortalim, SANCOALE - Goa - 403710-INDIA

Contact Office Tel: 00 91 832 2550263 / 2550517 e-mail: sanjovaz@blessedjosephvaz.org [www.blessedjosephvaz.org]