No sooner the word spread that Pope Francis’ Apostolic trip to Sri Lanka would result in the canonization of Goan priest and missionary
Blessed Joseph Vaz, scores of Goans have decided to witness the historic event firsthand. They wasted no time in getting their act together and hundreds have already booked tickets, with travel agents continuing to receive enquiries with each passing day. Paul Siqueira, proprietor of Zion Travels, a pilgrimage travel company, says over 350 people are travelling with them in nine groups over three days beginning
January 10. He expects the number to rise to 500 with inquiries showing no signs of relenting. Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao,
Vicar General and Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barreto, and 25 priests will be travelling along with the faithful. Two priests of Goan origin from Canada and Australia and a group of 20 people from the UK have also booked their seats and will be arriving in Goa in time to leave
with their groups to witness the once in a lifetime event.
The group Crusaders for Jesus with
Mary will be taking a batch of 60-odd
people and Airsonic, another travel company,
has 100-odd people who have
booked with them.
The high demand for tickets during
the crucial week in January has meant
that prices of tickets have begun to soar
and along with this, the price for the
entire six-day package that travel companies
are offering. Those who booked
in advance paid around Rs 42,000. People
still booking are paying Rs 48,000 with
some even shelling out Rs 69,000.
The lack of direct flights from Goa to
Sri Lanka has also added to the travel
cost and pilgrims will be travelling via
Chennai or Bangalore to get to the island.
Most travel companies are not happy
with the lack of seats available on flights.
They would like to see more flights and
perhaps even a direct flight from Goa.
Bruno Gomindes, proprietor of Travco
Holidays says the government is only
concentrating on inbound traffic for the
Exposition of the Relics of St Francis
Xavier. “They should also understand
the importance of outbound traffic to
Sri Lanka for Fr Joseph Vaz’ canonization.
This is a big event which is very close to
the hearts of Goans. There is a scarcity
of seats and this is very unfortunate.”
Government role
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had
told reporters last month that there
was no guarantee but the State government
would be making a request
to the central government regarding
direct flights. When contacted an official
from the CM’s office said, “The CM has
made an informal request to the Centre.
Post October 15, a formal request will
be made.”
If and when the government gets its
act together, there will still be no respite
for the hundreds of pilgrims who have
already booked and planned their trips.
Paul Siqueira says the least the government
could have done was borne the
cost of the visas (a paltry 10 dollars) of
the pilgrims.
Pope Francis is due to spend three
days in Sri Lanka (January 12 till 15)
before proceeding to the Philippines. At
8:30 am on January 14, the faithful will
gather in large numbers at Galle Face
Green, a sprawling park spread across
five hectares on the banks of the Indian
Ocean in Colombo, for the public mass
and canonization ceremony.
For many from Goa it will be their
first visit to the neighbouring country.
The excitement among those travelling
is palpable. Niyan Marchon who will
be travelling with the Crusaders says
Fr Joseph Vaz is his personal saint. “I’ve
got many answers to my problems
through his intercession and he has
saved me from several difficult situations.
My daughter was born on January 16
and we’ve given her a middle name
Josel. We are going to reinforce our
faith and to thank God for making Fr
Joseph Vaz a saint. We also get to see
the Pope, making it a wholesome spiritual
experience.”
Dr Nirmala Dessai from Margao says
she has been planning a pilgrimage to
Sri Lanka for the past two years but
things had never worked out.
This time, she will be travelling
with 15 other likeminded people,
some of whom will be joining
her from Chennai. “Fr
Joseph Vaz is a role model
for me. When he was asked
to become Bishop of Ceylon
he refused and chose to carry
on his work quietly. I admire
his simple life and his dedication.”
Siqueira, who will be travelling
with one of his groups,
says the devotion and enthusiasm
is tremendous. He is
pushing for suitable seating
arrangements for the Goan pilgrims at
the special mass. “It will be a very
proud moment for us Goans. After all,
Fr Joseph Vaz is one of us.”
Extinct Order
Bl Joseph Vaz was ordained a priest of
the diocese of Goa in 1676. Since the
European religious in those days weren’t
accepting Goan boys in their congregations,
a group of priests formed an
association called the Milagristas. Joseph
Vaz joined this group on December
25, 1685 and was chosen as the Superior
General. He was instrumental in
writing the statute of the order of the
Oratorians of Goa and sending it for
approval to Rome. The order received
Papal recognition in 1706 and was the
first indigenous congregation outside
Europe to receive papal recognition.
The order continued until 1835 when
all religious orders were banned by
the Portuguese. Fr Eremito Rebelo,
rector of the Sancoale Sanctuary says
the order continued in Sri Lanka and
died with the death of the last Oratorian.
“The order would have continued
if not for the ban. It is extinct today.”
But the canonization of Fr Joseph Vaz
is a fitting recompense.
