CORTALIM: Bishop Harold Anthony Perera of Kurunegala (Sri Lanka)
along with 25 Sri Lanka priests will celebrate mass at the
Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, Sancoale, on Monday, April 21, at
4.30 pm, to commemorate the 363rd birth anniversary of Blessed
Joseph Vaz.
Later at 7.30 pm, a Konkani movie based on Christian values ‘Tum
Konnak Ravtai’ by Fr Doel Dias will be screened at the Sanctuary.
Blessed Vaz, known as the Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka and
Patron of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, entered Ceylon (now
Sri Lanka) in 1687 during the Dutch Occupation, when Calvinism was
the official religion.
He travelled throughout the Island bringing the Eucharistic and
the Sacraments to the clandestine groups of Catholics.
Later, in his mission, he found shelter in the Kingdom of Kandy
where he was able to work freely. By the time of his death Blessed
Vaz managed to rebuild the Catholic Church on the Island nation.
Blessed Vaz who died in Kandy Sri Lanka in 1711, was beatified by
Pope John Paul II in Galle, Colombo in January 21, 1995.
