Goan Priest’s Canteen Provides Meals with a Mission

Old Goa, December 18, 2024: The St. Joseph Vaz Canteen, located near St. Cajetan’s Church in Old Goa, has been serving pilgrims and visitors since November 21. Managed by Fr. Felix Lobo, the canteen has become a key attraction during the ongoing exposition of St. Francis Xavier's relics. This year marks the second time Fr. Felix has taken on the responsibility of catering to pilgrims, following his success in running the canteen during the 2014 exposition. Open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM, the canteen offers traditional Goan dishes at affordable prices. 

This year, the canteen has been receiving a huge number of patrons, thanks to a Facebook video made by Marius Fernandes, popularly known as “Goencho Festakar”. The video, which promoted the various offerings of the canteen, went viral on social media and generated a lot of publicity for the canteen. This has resulted in large crowds coming to the canteen daily. “I’m very happy that the video did well,” Fr. Felix shared, expressing gratitude to Marius for the unexpected publicity that brought patrons from far and wide to his canteen. 

St. Joseph Vaz Canteen offers an array of beloved Goan delicacies, sticking true to the region’s rich culinary heritage. Special dishes on the canteen’s menu include oxtail soup, sorpotel, aad maas, roast meat, beef tongue, ambot tik, and various chicken preparations like chicken xacuti, chicken green, and chicken red. The most popular takeaway items at the canteen are sorpotel and roast meat, which sell out quickly. 

Fr. Felix also shared that through his canteen, several women from Usgao village who hail from economically disadvantaged backgrounds have gained employment. During the 2014 exposition, the canteen initiative proved life-changing for many, with some employees moved to tears of joy upon receiving their earnings. This year, however, staffing challenges have emerged as a few individuals who initially committed to work at the canteen, suddenly opted out. 

With Christmas on the anvil, Fr. Felix and Marius are collaborating to host a special Christmas buffet at the canteen on December 25th. The buffet, priced at an affordable ₹300 per person, is aimed at those who may be lonely, depressed or without family to celebrate with on Christmas Day. It promises to be a feast of authentic, traditional Goan dishes like chicken roast, assado, and sorpotel—a menu that reflects the culinary soul of Goa. 

The proceeds from this heartfelt event will support St. Joseph Vaz Kindergarten School in Collem-Mollem, a school located in a forested region of Goa. Funds raised at the buffet will help cover essential expenses like transportation for children from remote areas, fuel, and the bus driver’s salary. 

For those visiting the exposition, Fr. Felix’s canteen is a must-visit destination—not just for its delicious food, but for its greater purpose. Located directly opposite the Se Catedral, it is impossible to miss.  

 By Steve Antao