ST. ANDREWS CHURCH - VASCO DA GAMA
Pilgrimage
Distance (From Kadamba Bus Terminus): 28 Kms
Commonly Visited From: Hansa Beach or St. Francis Church
Trip Duration (From Hansa Beach or St. Francis Church, Including Travel): 30 Mins - 1 Hr
Place Location: Vasco Da Gama
Transportation Options: Cab / Auto / Rental Bike
Travel Tips: This place is usually visited from Hansa Beach (2.5 kms) or St. Francis Church (5 kms)
At a distance of 28 km from Panjim Kadamba Bus Stand and 1 km from Vasco Da Gama Railway Station, St Andrew's Church is situated in Vasco Da Gama, Goa.
Church of St. Andrew's the Apostle was founded by the Jesuits in 1570. The inaugural mass was celebrated with great pomp on 5th April in 1570. Adil Shah's soldiers destroyed the original building in 1578. Viceroy Ferrao Teles de Menezes ordered the priests throughout Goa to build beautiful Churches of stone and lime. The present Church building probably belongs to 1594. The church had a magnificent ''facade'' which was destroyed in the year 1950.
After the construction of the main building the original peak gable façade was restructured with Neo-Gothic features added to it. The parochial residence was extended in 1989 by the parish priest, late Father F. Couto. Major changes were made in 2009 when the current priest Father Jose Antonio Costa began expansion and renovation work. The church also has a new school building on the premises. A long and extended prayer hall was inaugurated in 2010.
A grotto built on the church premises was blessed by Father Jose Antonio Costa and Father Lino Gonsalves. The beautifully decorated grotto has statues of three shepherd children with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima carved in marble. There is also a statue of Joseph Vaz on the east side of the church.
On 30th November, the port town celebrates the feast of St Andrew and the town rejoices and comes together to celebrate the patron saint of spinsters and fishermen.
Timings: 9 AM - 12 PM and 4 PM - 7 PM on all days.
