Sancoale is in the final stage of preparations for the forthcoming novenas and feast in honour of St Joseph Vaz, which will be celebrated with great devotion at the Frontispiece of the Old Church of Sancoale, Rua Escravo de Maria Sancoale.
The novenas will commence on January 7 and continue for nine days, culminating in the solemn feast on January 16. During the novena days we will have five masses celebrated daily—three in the morning and two in the evening at 4.15 pm and 6 pm.
The morning Masses will be held at 6.00 am, 7.30 am and 9.15 am, with the third Mass also known as the Romaria Mass (organised by the Deaneries). In the evening Masses will be held at 4.15 pm (Romaria) and 6 pm in English.
To ensure the comfort of devotees, several facilities have been arranged. St Joseph Vaz canteen managed by Fr Felix will be available, along with a traditional fair and stalls offering various spiritual and devotional items.
On Sunday 11th Jan we will have additional three masses I.e. 5am in Konkani, 11am in Malayalam mass and at 2:00pm in Hindi.
On the feast day, January 16, Holy Masses will be celebrated at 5 am, 6 am, 7.30 am, 8.30 am, followed by the solemn feast Mass at 10.00 am. Two additional Masses will be held in the evening at 4.00 pm and 5.30 pm.
The solemn feast Mass will be presided over by Most Rev Auxiliary Bishop Simao Fernandes, with Cardinal Most Rev Philip Neri Ferrão and other clergy concelebrating.
To accommodate the large gathering of devotees, a huge pandal has been erected, and adequate parking facilities have been arranged. Devotees are requested to cooperate with the volunteers, strictly follow their directions and guidance, especially regarding parking arrangements.
Fr. Kenneth Teles, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale, and Rector of the St Joseph Vaz Sanctuary, has appealed to all devotees to join hands in making the novenas and feast a blessed and fruitful celebration/experience seeking the abundant blessings of St Joseph Vaz.
“As we prepare to celebrate the novenas and feast of St Joseph Vaz, I humbly invite all devotees to join us in prayer and devotion. Let us cooperate with one another, follow the guidance of our volunteers, and come together as one faith-filled community, so that these novenas and the feast may be a truly blessed and fruitful celebration under the loving blessings of St Joseph Vaz.”
— Fr. Kenneth Teles,
Parish Priest, Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale &
Rector, St Joseph Vaz Sanctuary
