Our Lady of Health, Cuncolim
02-Feb-2016
Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa
History:
The Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa is called ‘Nossa Senhora de Saude Igreja em Sancoale, Goa’ in Portuguese. The Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa is also popular among Goan Churches and is called ‘The Sancoale Church’ locally in Goa. The first construction of The Sancoale Church was built in 1606 and dedicated to the Patronage of Our Lady of Health. This church however caught fire in 1834 yet Its frontspiece, still stands on the bank of the Zuari river. The Portuguese government had declared this sancoale church as a national monument in 1937. The present Sancoale Church was formerly a chapel probably founded in 1783. The Sancoale Church was elevated to the rank of a parish in 1839. In the Sancoale Parish is the sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, built to commemorate the second death centenary of Blessed Joseph Vaz the patron saint of Goa in 1911. The Sanctuary was originally dedicated to St. Philip Nery, founder of the Oratorians, the order in which Blessed Joseph Vaz was a part of. St Joseph Vaz grew up in the village of Sancoale, though he spent most of his preaching life in Sri Lanka. Since the year 2000, Joseph Vaz has been declared as the Patron Saint of Goa. The Joseph Vaz Sanctuary was renovated on January 5, 2003.
The number of Catholics in the Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa parish are around 3250.
The feast of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May every year.
The Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz which has a chapel has a resident priest, Fr Eremito Rebello.
The Religious order in the parish of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa are
The Holy Family Sisters (SFN) who are based at The Holy Family Convent in Sancoale, Cortalim, Goa and St John of the Cross Convent, Sarfona, Sancoale, Goa and The Elenore Linse Bhavan also at Sancoale, Goa.
The educational institutions in the parish of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa are St Joseph Vaz high school run by the Holy Family Sisters as well as the Kiran Niketan Primary school and the Kiran Niketan Social Centre also run by the Holy Family Sisters.
Social Institutions in the Parish of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa are
The Holy Family Boarding House. Sancoale, Goa run by the Holy Family Sisters.
St John of the Cross Boarding, Sancoale, Goa
Fr Faustinos Charitable Dispensary, Sancoale, Goa run by the Holy Family Sisters is also located in the parish of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Goa
The address of the Sancoale church is Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, Cortalim, Goa 403710.