Blessed Joseph Vaz will be canonised as saint by Pope Francis in January 2015. His life is a lesson to thousands of people.
For years and even today, thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics publish the extraordinary favours obtained by them from Blessed Joseph Vaz, in local newspaper, Catholic weeklies and magazines, both in India and abroad.
Blessed Joseph Vaz, a native of Sancoale, becomes the third Indian saint, after saints Gonsala Gracia and Saint Alphonsa Mmuthathu Padthu.
Catholics in general and Goans in particular can surely be proud of having produced a saint. It is my earnest desire that Catholic associations all over India should send a proposal to the Union Ministry of communication, requesting the Central Government to issue a commemorative postage stamp for Blesses Joseph Vaz.
To honour this great son as a saint of India and as a son of Goa, the Department of Posts, will surely feel it as a great privilege to bringing out a special commemorative stamp on the day when Blesses Joseph Vaz would be canonized as saint.
Melson F M Louis, Margao
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Using the dead
The rush to become a foreign national can be seen at the Portuguese consulate every single day. Goans and people from Daman and Diu have a privilege to become Portuguese citizens in India if one applies for it with the required documents. However, in some cases the documents required are difficult to trace at the archives. Lately, it has been observed that people are trying to changes their names to sound more like Goan origin names. The condolence pages in most newspapers give complete details of the dead which the frauds can use to fake their documents to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Giving complete details of the dead on the obituary pages should be avoided and if possible be stopped so that one does not miss use the information.
Presley Gonsalves, by email
Fine isn’t enough, punishment needed
The garbage problem in the state is getting worse with each passing day. The Margao Municipal Council has reportedly collected an amount of Rs 6000 by way of fine from various offenders from outside the municipal jurisdiction for disposing off waste in the city (Herald, Oct 14). It must be said that imposing petty fines will not put an end to this menace of dumping of garbage in the open, by the road-side and in the water-bodies. Those caught in such acts need to face detention at the respective police stations for a day or two. Alternatively, the offenders should be made to do community service by engaging in sweeping the streets. Only such severe punishment will break the habit of the people who prefer to dispose off their garbage by dumping it in open spaces and in the water bodies, thus polluting the water. Just an awareness drive and imposing a penalty may not solve the garbage issue without following it with strict punishment.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Bane of benevolence
This refers to ‘Road digging starts minor row’ (Herald, October 13). Calangute is perhaps the only place in Goa, fortunate to have two politicians hell bent on development of the village. Unfortunately, whenever one works for development the other throws a spanner in the works and vice versa. The bottom line is that Calangute sees very little development.
In the greater interest of Calangute I would like to request both Michael Lobo MLA and Joseph Sequeira de facto sarpanch, to bury the axe and work unitedly for the development of Calangute. If, however, they cannot come to terms because of their egos, I humbly request both gentlemen to stay away from Calangute and depute others to carry out the development of the village. No one is indispensable.
Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute
More surprise visits in order
I read recently in some tabloids that the Collector of North Goa District, Ms Nila Mohanan (IAS) had been on a surprise visit to some government offices, where she found some irregularities. It was reported that some officials were not present in their places, and Ms Mohanan said that they would have to forfeit their one day’s pay. While such surprise visits by top bureaucrats are a welcome step, I hope that the District Collector will continue with it in months to come.
K B Dessai, Fatorda
