‘Celebrate canonization by pealing of the bells at 9 am’

PANJIM: Encouraging churches, chapels and religious institutions all across the archdiocese to celebrate the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz at 9 am on January 14, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão said this would be a sign of the Goan community’s deep spiritual communion with the Church gathered in Colombo. 

Archbishop Ferrão has also called for special thanksgiving prayers throughout the Archdiocese on January 18, the first Sunday after the Feast of St Joseph Vaz.

In a circular to the Priests, Religious, Lay Faithful and people of goodwill in the Archdiocese, Archbishop Ferrão said the Canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz on January 14 is the culmination of more than three centuries of expectation and supplication on the part of his devotees from Goa, Mangalore, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. 

“Coming Wednesday will be, therefore, a unique day in the history of the Church in Goa, a day worth celebrating with special unction and joy, as the Patron of this Archdiocese will be declared a Saint of the Universal Church,” said Archbishop Ferrão.

“Goans everywhere will be spiritually and eagerly united to the Holy Father Pope Francis, as the Solemn Mass of the Canonization will unfold in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during which His Holiness will declare Joseph Vaz a Saint. It is expected that the exact moment of this Solemn Declaration of Sainthood will take place just before 9 am on January 14.”

“We determine, therefore, that, as a sign of our deep spiritual communion with the Church gathered in Colombo, bells be pealed at 9 am on January 14, in all the Churches and Chapels of our Archdiocese. Our other Catholic institutions should also endeavour to celebrate on that day this important event in a meaningful way,” said Archbishop Ferrão.

He also informed that the archdiocese will celebrate, for the first time, with great enthusiasm, the Solemnity of St Joseph Vaz on January 16.

“The main celebration of this Solemnity will take place at the Sanctuary of our Saint, in Sancoale, at 10 am. On January 18 – the first Sunday after the Feast of St Joseph Vaz – special thanksgiving prayers should be held throughout our Archdiocese, either during the Eucharistic Celebrations or outside them.”

“The Church in Goa and Daman shall, therefore, remain specially united in prayer on that day, in thanksgiving to God for satisfying the intense desire of people who waited in prayer for more than three hundred years. With the first son of our soil being included in the Canon of the Saints, our Archdiocese has crossed a unique milestone in its journey towards maturity,” Archbishop Ferrão added.