Archbishop Moras celebrates canonization of Blessed Vaz

MANGALURU: Most Rev Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore Diocese, said let the shrine of Blessed Joseph Vaz satiate the spiritual hunger of those who approach in need of strength.
The Archbishop on Friday unveiled the statue of St Joseph Vaz to mark the end of the three-day celebration of canonization of the saint at the Miracle Hill shrine. The Archbishop also launched the free meal programme for devotees by pouring rice into a pot.The shrine will provide free meal once a week to devotees on Friday.
The Archbishop said let the light shone by the saint guide all the devout who approach the shrine for recourse.
The celebrations were at bit dampened after CM Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues missed the event due to state mourning announced due to death of former state governor Rameshwar Thakur on Thursday.
This is the first time a priest from the coastal region has been elevated to sainthood. The statue of Blessed Joseph Vaz was brought to the shrine in a procession from Panir to Mudipu in a decorated vehicle on January 9, in the run-up to the event. Pope Francis on January 14 raised Blessed Joseph Vaz, who performed miracles on the hill of Mudipu, to the altar of sainthood in Sri Lanka.
Earlier during the mass led by the Archbishop, Mangaluru Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu, PRO Fr William Menezes, and others took part. In his homily, Moras said Blessed Vaz brought more people near to God with his work and dedication.
Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza said that apart from his missionary work, his service to society in helping the needy was exemplary.
Joseph Vaz was born on April 21, 1651, in Benaulim, Goa. He was the third son of Christopher Vaz and Miranda. He became a priest in 1676 and served in different parishes of Goa till 1681. Later, he was sent to Canara. Fr Joseph Vaz travelled from Goa barefoot. He served in Honnavar, Basrur, Kundapur, Gangolli, Mulki, Mangaluru and Panir. He was miraculously saved from an attempt on his life in 1684, while serving as parish priest of Panir Church.
His ambition was to work as a missionary in Sri Lanka, and he went there in 1687 as a labourer defying a ban on Catholic priests. He served in various places in Sri Lanka, braving odds and rekindling Christian faith in that nation. He died on January 16, 1711. Recognizing his work, Pope John Paul II proclaimed him Blessed Joseph Vaz in Colombo on January 21, 1995. He is venerated as the Apostle of Sri Lanka and Patron of Goa.