The visiting pilgrims are the descendants
of those catechised by Blessed Vaz. They visited the holy places of Blessed
Joseph Vaz in Goa from August 23 to 26, 2014 and also prayed at the Church of
Sao Pedro which houses the Statue of Our Lady of Jaffna which was brought to
Goa from Sri Lanka during the Dutch persecution of Catholics in Sri Lanka. The
Statue of Our Lady of Jaffna is known in Goa as the Statue of Our Lady of
Miracles.
Such pilgrimages are organised by the Sri
Lankan National Secretariat of Blessed Joseph Vaz in collaboration with the
Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz. Blessed
Vaz who hails from Sancoale was assisted by many Goan priests including Fr
Jacom Gonsalves of Divar who passed away in Sri Lanka and could well be next in
line for the canonisation process after Blessed Joseph Vaz.
