Shrine of Our Lady of Remedies

The statue of “Our Lady of Remedy(Portuguese Term “Nossa Senhora dos Remédios”)”


This statue of Our Lady of Remedy is at the Our Lady of Remedy church at Remedy village in Baçaím (Vasai).The church of Our Lady of Remedy was erected in the year 1577 and its on the midway between the Vasai Fort and village of Agashi(Agaçaím).Donna Anna Ortiz was the main donor of this church.After the church was built,it was dedicated to “Our Lady of Remedy” probably because it had an image of “Our Lady” that have said to have worked wondrous cures.Many Europeans in those era while passing from the fort drawn to this devotion.In 1605 came ecclesiastical approval of 120 miracles attributed to “Our Lady of Remedy of Bassein”.Referring to this phenomena,more than four years ago,the famous Portuguese chronicler,Diogo do Couto,emphatically states:”THIS LADY HAD PERFORMED SO MANY MIRACLES THAT THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH ARE COVERED WITH PICTURES REPRESENTING THEM”.Moreover,in front church was an ancient mark with water,believed to have power of healing.

This church continued to be so well-known.We have the words of one of its devotees,the famous Jesuit Fr.Manuel Godinho.He had been entrusted by the viceroy of Goa with a crucial diplomatic mission:”to go and influence the king of Portugal not to cede the island of Bombay to the birtish”.Fr Manuel Godinho writes as follows”………….ON 15TH DECEMBER 1662,I WENT TO THE CHURCH OF “OUR LADY OF REMEDY” WHICH IS AT THE DISTANCE OF TWO CANON SHOTS FROM THE CITY(VASAI FORT).IN THE PRESENCE OF THAT MIRACULOUS STATUE,WHICH IS WORSHIPPED BY CHRISTIANS,MUSLIMS AND HINDUS ALIKE,I OFFERED TO GOD ANY ADVERSITIES I WOULD ENCOUNTER IN THE COURSE OF THE VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS JOURNEY I PROPOSED TO UNDERTAKE AND,AFTER TAKING HER BLESSINGS AND WITH GREAT CONFIDENCE IN HER PATRONAGE,I STARTED ON MY WAY”.

The devotion continued and,very significantly this shrine had not been touched by the arab invaders of 1679 when they set fire to the churches of Sandor and Papdy village.Thirty years later the Italian traveller,Gemelli Carreri recorded as follows:”THURSDAY THE 3RD FEBRUARY 1695,I WENT OT VISIT THE IMAGE OF “OUR LADY DE DOS REMEDIOS”,STANDING IN A PARISH CHURCH BELONGING TO THE DOMINICANS ON THE ROAD TO THE CASABE ”.and he went on to say:”ABOUT FIVE YEARS SINCE THIS CHURCH WAS BURNT BY KAKAJI(MARATHI RULER),A GENTILE SUBJECT TO THE GREAT MOGHUL,WHO IS GREAT MULTITUDE OF OUTLAWS WENT ABOUT LIKE A ROVER,PLUNDERING AND BURNING VILLAGES”.

The current statue of “Our Lady of Remedy” was sculpted by Michael Sequeira from Vasai and it was installed in the church in somewhere around 1952(date not sure).This statue is said to be depicted from the miraculous image of “Our Lady of Remedy” which was once present in the church and had gained devotions of European travellers of Portuguese era.The church of Our Lady of Remedy was declared as the Diocesan Shrine of Vasai diocese by Bishop Thomas Dabre in 1999.Following such glorifying past of Our Lady of Remedy,many devotees across Vasai and tourist/travellers visit this shrine to pay homage to Our Lady of Remedy, During all Saturdays of June, special devotions(Novenas) are held in this shrine.



Its being said that if your onto a visit to explore Vasai & if you don’t visit this place then surely you have missed the most charismatic experience of Vasai,Such is the profound & miraculous history of Our Lady of Remedy.