Savio Rodrigues s. j.
The “O Heraldo” of March 24th 1950, the “A Vida” of March 1951, and Mr Benjamin Gois Proenca on the 24th of March 1950, at the funeral, of Mons. Herculano Gonsalves, predicted that his memory of the man would never be erased from the minds and hearts of the people of Goa. Today around 70 years after his death, no one remembers or knows anything about this saintly priest.
Herculano was born in Cana, Benaulim, in Salcette, just a stones throw from the home of Saint Joseph Vaz. Two of his uncles were vicar generals in the Padroado diocese of Mailepore and Herculano was the vicar general of the Ghats.
Very little is known about his childhood or seminary days. He came into the limelight when he preached his first sermon on Maundy Thursday, in the Church in Calangute. He preached on Humility, and the anti-Catholic, Portuguese press reported his sermon almost verbatim.
In Daman, the seminarians were all admiration of his skills, spirituality, prayerfulness and holiness.
In Dabul/Sonapur in the Padroado diocese of Bombay, Herculano here takes on a new avtar. His visits to the slums, Kudds and homes brings him in actual contact with sinful living. Father Herculano begins to preach about the mercy of god and spends hours in the confessional. His sermons are very powerful and downright. Goan women are saved from prostitution, men are helped find employment and fight addiction to the bottle. He dared to go where no priest in his cassock dared to venture.
Herculano did not preach what he could not himself practice. He saw the lack of schooling facilities his poor children faced. He dared to start the first co-education school for his poor children. He had no funds, no premises, but he had faith in God, His “Little Flower School” churned out many a good student.
He returned to his native Benaulim, but was soon asked to take over the parish of Calangute for just TWO years, so as to help settle an issue that was dividing the parish, which he resolved with kindness.
He was appointed Vicar General of the Ghats. For the next fifteen years he would be travelling from Poona in the north to Karwar in the south visiting every Padroado parish. He was very keen in spending time with his priests and checking all their registers. He heard their confessions and gave them spiritual advice.
He managed to preach in every parish in Goa, for their feasts, something no other priest has ever achieved. One cannot afford to overlook his personal holiness and commitment to regular prayer. He was a very prayerful man.
He founded an orphanage for girls. Hundred years ago Herculano saw what the world today is crying about. “The Girl Child.” He found a “Pious Association” which developed into a religious congregation for sisters.
Pope Pius XII, rewarded him for his selfless life, by appointing him as a Papal Chamberlain.
He preached “Death to self” even though he was not aware of the ‘ego’ he saw it as the greatest obstacle to holiness. He is a saint for today’s world.
