CORTALIM: Calling upon the laity to emulate the values of St Joseph Vaz who served as an example for the people to be committed to the challenges of their faith, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao said that with the sainthood of Joseph Vaz, there are more responsibilities.
In his homily delivered at the feast Mass of St Joseph Vaz, Archbishop Ferrao said, “It is our duty to make known the heroic deeds of St Joseph Vaz during his missionary works in Goa, Mangalore and Sri Lanka.”
Thousands of devotees attended the various Masses at the Sancoale Sanctuary on Friday, which was the first feast of the Saint after his canonization by Pope Francis in Colombo. People came from all over the State throughout the day and piously joined in the Masses.
Recalling the Saint’s works, Ferrao said Vaz had left his motherland and people, feeling a profound urge to help the Catholics in Sri Lanka who were being persecuted by the Calvinists in Sri Lanka.
“He made an arduous journey to Sri Lanka and went through many difficulties, serving the spiritual needs of the Sri Lankan Catholics with zeal. His work with the sick convinced the King of Kandy to allow Vaz in his missionary works with freedom which also exemplified that Vaz worked with love alongside all the communities and faiths,” he said.
Archbishop Ferrao reminded that with the canonization of Joseph Vaz the work has not ended and a lot has to be done including making Joseph Vaz known to all the faithful. “Earlier, it was the Cause of Beatification of Joseph Vaz, after his beatification it became the Cause of Canonization of Joseph Vaz and now it is the Cause for promotion of the devotion of St Joseph Vaz.”
Masses were held at 5 am, 6 am, 7 am, 8 am and 12 noon and 4 pm and 5.30 pm. The concelebrated feast Mass was held at 10 am with Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao being the main celebrant.
While thanking the other bishops for their presence, Archbishop Ferrao said Archbishop and former Papal Nuncio Blasco Colaco symbolised the universal church, Archbishop of Karachi Joseph Coutts symbolised the Goan diaspora in Karachi who were witness to the Gospel and Sindhudurg Bishop Allwyn Barreto symbolised all the Bishops in India and the Missionary church.
The Rachol Seminary choir Santa Cecilia rendered the hymns during the Mass. The theme of the feast was ‘St Joseph Vaz faith builds communion, strengthens family, inspires to renew society.’
