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Historical Firsts

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  • First Mass celebrated in Goa:
    November 25,1510

  • First Goan Priest:
    Rev. André Vaz, from Carambolim
    Ordained at Old-Goa, in 1558

  • First Goan priest raised to the Episcopate:
    Most Rev. Mateus de Castro, from Divar
    Vicar Apostolic of Bijapur
    Ordained Bishop in 1637
    His headquarters were at Bicholim

  • First Goan Vicar-Capitular of the Archdiocese of Goa
    V. Rev. Paulo António Dias da Conceição, from Cavelossim
    Elected Vicar-Capitular on January 18, 1835
    Governed the Archdiocese till December 1, 1837

  • First Cardinal of Goan origin
    His Eminence Valerian Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay.
    Created Cardinal on 12 th January 1953. (From Navelim).

  • First Priest of the Archdiocese to be appointed Bishop
    Most Rev. Altino Ribeiro de Santana, from Porvorim
    Bishop of Sá de Bandeira, Angola. Later, Bishop of Beira, Mozambique.
    Ordained Bishop at the Cathedral, Old Goa , October 23 rd , 1955
    Died on February 27, 1973.

  • First Goan Bishop to head the Archdiocese
    Most Rev. Francisco Xavier da Piedade Rebello, from Margao
    Appointed Apostolic Administrator, July 15 th , 1966.
    Relinquished office due to advanced age on July 23, 1972.
    Died: 1975

  • First Priest of the Archdiocese to be appointed Apostolic Nuncio
    Most Rev. Blasco Francisco Collaço, from Raia
    Appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Panama in November, 1977
    Now Apostolic Nuncio in South Africa.

  • First Goan to be appointed Archbishop of Goa and Daman, and Patriarch of the East Indies
    Most Rev. Raul Nicolau Gonsalves, from Bambolim
    Appointed on January 30th , 1978
    Resigned on January 16, 2004

  • First Pope to Visit the Archdiocese
    John Paul II, during his Pastoral Visit to India.
    His Holiness arrived in Goa on the 5th of February, 1986 and left Goan soil on the 7th of the same month. Nearly four hundred thousand people attended the Papal Mass on the 6th, at the Campal grounds, Panjim. From the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa, the Holy Father delivered his Address to the Indian Clergy, in the presence of some 800 priests.