Pio
Esteves
Since
childhood, by reading the life of saints, St Joseph Vaz experienced Christ and
as a youth, he surrendered to the works of Christ
Sancoale:
The novenas and feast of St Joseph Vaz, the patron saint of the archdiocese of
Goa, was celebrated with pomp and religious fervor at the old Our Lady of
Health church, Sancoale. Annually, the novenas and feast of the patron saint
would be celebrated at the St Joseph Vaz sanctuary, Sancoale.
Participating
in the festive mass, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao
recalled the auspicious day, January 14, 2015, when Pope Francis declared
Joseph Vaz a saint. “It was joyous moment not only to the people of Sri Lanka,
but much more to the Goan community as a fellow Goan born and brought in Goa
was declared a saint and everyone had a intercessor through him before God,” he
stated.
Reflecting
on the theme of the day ‘Christ’s love urges us on: St Joseph Vaz was all
things to all men, let us follow in his footsteps’, Rev Ferrao mentioned that
Saul was a great enemy of Christ, but when he encountered his Master, he gave
his entire life for Christ and his kingdom. “Since childhood, by reading the
life of saints, St Joseph Vaz experienced Christ and as a youth, he surrendered
to the works of Christ,” he said.
With
regards to St Joseph Vaz being all to all men, the Archbishop focused on three
aspects in the life of the saint and said that he was a proclaimer of God’s
word. He said that when people had given up their faith in Mangalore and Sri
Lanka, St Joseph Vazwas instrumental in reviving it by learning the local
language and teaching catechism to children and proclaiming God’s word to the
persecuted.
Rev
Ferrao said that St Joseph Vaz made concrete efforts to build small Christian
communities in Canara and Sri Lanka by imparting Christ’s values to those
families who led immoral life and those who had children outside the wedlock.
“In Sri Lanka he trained catechists and local leaders who would in turn teach
catechism to the children,” he added.
Rev
Ferrao revealed that St Joseph Vaz was a merciful pastor to his flock. “His
frequent visits to the poor and the sick, besides the lepers were a testimony
of his mercy. He also tried to bring in peace and harmony among the Tamil and
Sinari people,” he stated.
In
order to walk in the footsteps of St Joseph Vaz, the main celebrant said that
there are four challenges ahead which include growing in the love of Christ,
being proclaimers of Christ’s kingdom, strengthening Christian communities and
being instruments of peace in community.
Bishop
of the Karwar diocese, Rev Derick Fernandes, bishop of Agartala diocese, Rev Lumen
Monteiro, bishop of Sindhudurg diocese, Rev AllwynBaretto, secretary general of
CBCI, Rev Theodore Mascarenhas and bishop of Belgaum diocese, Rev Peter Machado
graced the occasion. Among the government officials, the Town and Country Plan
ning minister, VijaiSardesai and MLA of Cortalim constituency, Alina Saldanha
were present.
The
bishop of Agartala diocese, Rev Lumen Monteiro released a special souvenir on
the festive occasion. Fr Mario Costa led the choir and the traffic police
assisted for the smooth flow of traffic.
