Perhaps surprisingly, the story of Igreja de São Judas Tadeu begins not with grand architecture but with a humble house. In 1940 Dom José Gaspar de Affonseca e Silva created the Paróquia São Judas Tadeu. The city was growing. It needed more churches.
Padre João Buescher took over on March 17. The church first operated out of a small house. It served as a storage area. This house was located on Avenida Felício Fagundes. Today it is the start of Rua Fagundes Filho and Avenida Jabaquara. The house became a chapel. The first masses were celebrated there.
The first festival for the patron saint happened on October 28 1940. In 1941 the Festa a São Judas began to occur monthly on the 28th. Padre João Buescher sought good land. With the help of the community he built the first temporary church. It replaced the improvised chapel. He started building the definitive church the next year. It opened in April 1944. Today it is known as “Igreja Antiga” or Old Church.
The growing number of devotees created a need for a new church. In January 1963 priests parishioners and devotees began construction. It is now known as the “Igreja Nova” or New Church.
The “Igreja Nova” is large functional and modern. Its interior features a circular shape within a square. It has a cupola of 22 meters. The architecture leads one to the church’s center. That is the altar of Christ’s sacrifice.
The community gathers around the table like São Judas Tadeu. They celebrate Jesus Christ. Devotees can experience communion with God. They can connect with their brothers in the Eucharist. The devotion and celebration of São Judas grew over the parish’s 75 years. The faithful are served by the Sanctuary’s pastoral service.
Since its beginning three things mark the lives of devotees. These are evangelization social outreach and hearing confessions.
On November 18 1997 Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns declared Igreja de São Judas Tadeu a sanctuary. The people had already made it a sacred place. They saw it as a place of comfort. It was a refuge for their afflictions.
The devotion to São Judas Tadeu is linked to the founding of the parish. São Judas Tadeu was not well known then. People confused him with Judas Iscariotes. He was the one who betrayed Jesus. Padre João Buescher shared the saint’s story with the community. He printed images and prayers of São Judas. He distributed them at bus stops streetcars Praça da Sé and during visits to families.
He sought help to build the church and promoted the patron saint. Families helped him build the church. It later became a sanctuary. Today São Judas Tadeu is a popular saint in Brazil. The Sanctuary receives thousands of devotees on October 28. This is the day of his liturgical memorial.
When the Paróquia São Judas Tadeu was created there was no image of him. Padre João Buescher ordered a wooden sculpture. The sculptor became ill. The image was cast in plaster. It became the official image in the church parishes communities and homes.
The Santuário remains a house of God. People seek faith hope and blessings through devotion to São Judas Tadeu. This devotion is unique. It is not tied to any apparition. Padre João Buescher inspired trust in São Judas Tadeu. He did this through visits to people’s homes.
Today you stand before a testament to faith. The Igreja de São Judas Tadeu is a beacon of hope in São Paulo. It is all thanks to the apostle of the impossible causes.