SANCOALE: The feast of St Joseph Vaz was celebrated on Monday with much pomp and religious fervour as thousands made it to his Sanctuary at Sancoale.

Participating in the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao highlighted the life and works of St Joseph Vaz in Mangalore and Sri Lanka. Citing various exemplary works of the saint, he said that St Joseph Vaz was a man who was true witness of kindness and mercy of God.

Focusing on the theme ‘Inspired by St Joseph Vaz, let us witness to the kindness and mercy of God’, Rev Ferrao spoke of the incident in Mangalore wherein the saint wished to change the sinful lives of some men. “As St Joseph Vaz was constantly after them for renewal, those men decided to kill him. But when they tried to eliminate him on a remote hill, a miracle brought in the necessary change and the sinful men sought forgiveness,” he said.

He added, “When concluding the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis reminded Catholics that the fountain of mercy does not end. As Joseph Vaz was chosen to be a man of kindness and mercy, God has chosen us to follow in his footsteps.”

Rev Ferrao said that St Joseph Vaz was a witness to mercy by spreading the word of God. “From childhood, he inculcated love for the word of God through family prayers and reflection on the lives of saints,” he said.

As a youth, the Archbishop said that St Joseph Vaz tried to bring youngsters going astray towards God. As a priest, he said, many families who were broken due to alcoholism, were led to God by St Joseph Vaz.

Rev Ferrao said that St Joseph Vaz spent most of his time with families and through small Christian communities he was a powerful means of God’s mercy and kindness. “Let us strengthen these communities in our parishes. Towards the migrants, through acts of service and kindness, let us be witness to God’s mercy,” he concluded.

Bishop Blasco Colaco, besides the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, Fr Jose Remedious Fernandes, priests and nuns were present. The rector of the sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Fr Manuel Gomes in his address thanked all who supported and co-operated to make the 9-day novenas and the feast a grand success.