Sr. Perpetua Vaz
Father Herculano Gonsalves, a priest from Benaulim, Goa, served as a Professor and Spiritual Director of the Seminarians at Daman from 1893 onwards, during the time of the Portuguese rule in Goa.
After serving there for about 25 years, he arrived at Dabul and later at Sonapur, in Bombay, fresh after his teaching stint at the seminary in Daman, where he was accustomed to teaching just seminarians. He very soon engrossed himself with the routine of parish life. It was not long before he realised the state of decadence, carnality some of the parishioners were in. His person revolted, his heart craved forgiveness for them and his soul implored mercy for them. Fr. Herculano was now a man with a mission. He saw God calling him to help redeem these enslaved souls from the clutches of sin.
The men folk were poor earners but great spenders. They spent all that they earned on alcohol, while the women were left to fend for themselves, the children and satiate his sensual appetite.
The men were out the whole day working or seeking employment or worse wiling away their time at an illegal bar. The wife at home had no other alternative but to leave the house door open welcoming any customer, who was willing to pay. She was forced to sell her body, to keep her children fed and clothed.
Fr. Herculano was abhorred at this situation. He ventured into areas frequented by prostitutes, drunkards and pimps, always wearing his cassock. He visited homes even when the men were away. He did not bother about his reputation or his life. He began a school for their children, convinced that education would give them a better job future.
Fr. Herculano was later transferred to Calangute for a short period of about two and half years. His Dabul/Sonapur, experience stood him in good stead. Here he witnessed the plight of the many girl orphans. He also witnessed the teenage girls falling in love with the taxi drivers, because they were enamoured with their cab and not the man. Fr. Herculano soon established an orphanage for girls. He managed to get a couple of women to run the place. .
He soon thought of an idea of forming an association for women, to care for the orphans and homeless children, where they would live in community, work together and pray together. He called it a “ Pious Association.” This association later flowered into a religious congregation, the first one in the archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
But where would the maintenance come from? Once again his trust in Providence bore fruit, God did provide. He never ran short of his meagre needed funds because God himself was his banker.
