Team Herald
SANCOALE: The feast of St Joseph Vaz, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman was celebrated by locals at Sancoale on Thursday. He was canonized by Pope Francis in Sri Lanka in the year 2015 and the feast drew in thousands of devotees.
“Following in the footsteps of St Joseph Vaz, we are all called to be true missionaries by spreading the Good News among those around us, stated Archbishop Emeritus Alex Dias.
The Archbishop Emeritus was speaking at the Eucharistic celebration. Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao and Auxiliary Bishop of Mumbai Diocese, Rev Dominic Savio Fernandes were the co-celebrants.
During his homily, Rev Dias focused on two main events, namely January 14, 2015, when Joseph Vaz was declared a saint by Pope Francis and 1995 when St Pope John Paul II beautified Joseph Vaz. After the official declaration, he said Pope Francis mentioned that Joseph Vaz was the apostle of Sri Lanka and Goans gave him as a raw material.
Rev Dias denied that St Joseph Vaz was a raw material to Sri Lanka, instead, he said, “he was a zealous missionary, who grew in holiness since childhood and served humanity, irrespective of caste or religion, through his holiness.
“The foundation of holiness was laid by his parents, Christopher Vaz and Maria Miranda,” Rev Dias continued, “and after primary education in Sancoale and Benaulim, he joined the Seminary, where he was exemplary to others.” “As an exemplary priest and due to his virtues,” he added, “he immediately received permission to preach and hear confession.”
The Archbishop Emeritus said that Joseph Vaz’s dream was to preach to the depressed and the persecuted. While serving the people in Canara, Mangalore and Sri Lanka, he said that the priest continued to grow in holiness.
Reflecting on the period when Joseph Vaz was beautified in 1995, Rev Dias noted that a priest in his article on Vaz had mentioned that the statue and picture of Joseph Vaz should be more depicting him as a coolie, instead of a priest. “In order to spread the Good News,” he stated, “he moved around more often in disguise, thus serving everyone, irrespective of religion.”
“As we are celebrating the feast of our patron saint for the past 5 years,” said Rev Dias, while insisting that ‘we all need to emulate his virtues as he was true witness to his faith’.
“As we all are baptized, he said that every Christian’s vocation and mission is to spread the Good News like the missionaries St Joseph Vaz and St Francis Xavier, thus bearing witness to Christ.
At the end of the service, the rector of St Joseph Vaz sanctuary in Sancoale, Fr Manuel Dias thanked the dignitaries and government officials for their presence and assistance. The choir led by Fr Arvind Fernandes, the Assistant Parish Priest of Colva church, assisted during the festive mass.
The faithful and devotees of St Joseph Vaz were seen flocking the venue since dawn till dusk.
