Frei Galvão Shrine

On October 12, 1983, in the Jardim do Vale neighborhood in Guaratinguetá, the first Mass was celebrated at the site where the church dedicated to Frei Galvão was to be built. The people were accommodated in an old house and Father Victor Menuti, then Parish Priest of St. Peter the Apostle, was the president of the celebration.

With this first celebration was inaugurated the Chapel San José and the community continued working for the construction of the chapel. The land, however, did not belong to the church and for a long time it was tried to buy it, without success. With good heart and charity, the Galvão Family, owner of the land, prepared to donate it to the Archdiocese of Aparecida in order to build a church dedicated to Saint Joseph on the site. The contract was signed on September 1, 1987, where the Galvão family was represented by Mr. Edson José Galvão Nogueira.

In the beginning of the 90's with the visit of Father Nelson Ferreira Lopes to the parish of Our Lady of Fatima, the construction of the church dedicated to Saint Joseph began. During this period, the walls of the church were built. In 1996, Father Anísio Teixeira arrived in the parish, which would continue his work. But with the beatification of Frei Galvão, the work was paralyzed to suit the project.

With the full acceptance of the community of St. Joseph, the church became known as Blessed Frei Galvão and construction work was completed. It became the first church dedicated to the Brazilian Blessed, born in Guaratinguetá, and who later became a saint.