Team Goemkarponn
SANCOALE: Over one lakh devotees from across Goa and beyond participated in the Novenas and the grand Feast of St. Joseph Vaz, patron saint of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, which was solemnly celebrated on January 16 at Sancoale.
The solemn feast Mass at 10 am was presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of Goa and Daman, Most Rev. Simiao Fernandes, and concelebrated by Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Bishop of Agartala Lumen Monteiro, Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Bombay Allwyn D’Silva, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias, along with several priests. The celebrations were held at the Old Church façade of Our Lady of Health Church, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale.
In his homily, Bishop Simiao Fernandes emphasized the theme of service, stating, “The world today doesn’t need shining superstars but servants with a humble and zealous heart.” Drawing from the Scriptures, he urged the faithful to speak out against injustice in society, live in communion with one another, and serve without discrimination. Highlighting three characteristics of Jesus’ ministry—availability, humility, and inclusiveness—he said these virtues were perfectly lived by St. Joseph Vaz.
The Bishop recalled how St. Joseph Vaz served the poor, cared for the sick when they were rejected by society, administered sacraments under extremely challenging conditions, and dedicated his life to serving people of all faiths. He exhorted the faithful to follow the saint’s example in their daily lives.
St. Joseph Vaz, born in Benaulim with his paternal home at Sancoale, is Goa’s homegrown saint and the “Apostle of Sri Lanka.” Canonized in 2015, he is also a national saint of Sri Lanka. The celebrations highlighted his early life and priestly formation in Sancoale, his ministry in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and his heroic missionary work in Sri Lanka during Dutch persecution, where he preserved Catholicism by secretly administering the Eucharist and sacraments.
At the 8.45 am Mass, Fr. Rocklin D’Costa, Parish Priest of Nagoa, Bardez, shared a reflection quoting a Sri Lankan priest who told Pope Francis that “the greatest miracle of St. Joseph Vaz is the existing Catholic Church in Sri Lanka.”
At the start of the 10 am solemn Mass, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao welcomed the bishops, priests, religious, and laity. Fr. Kenet Teles proposed the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to Church authorities, clergy, parishioners, well-wishers, police, and government officials for their support.
This year, around one lakh devotees participated in the Novenas and feast celebrations, with approximately 20,000 faithful attending the feast day Masses. The liturgical celebrations were broadcast live by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications, Goa, and telecast on GCTV, CCRTV, Herald TV, Prudent Media, and several local television channels and YouTube platforms.
