This news report was published on the front page of Gomantak Times dated 15-7-2007 with one photo
A blessed time for Sri Lankan pilgrims at Sancoale - Goa
-By Daniel F. de Souza.
“Blessed Joseph Vaz was fired by the word of the Lord and with this burning spiritual fire within him; he went about preaching God’s word to the faithful in all humility, in the distant land of Sri Lanka. He had a special love and concern for the poor and the down trodden. Blessed Joseph Vaz, set foot in Sri Lanka in the garb of a coolie and went about with his Ministry, preaching faith to the people there” said the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao in his touching homily at the special Eucharistic celebration held for the 35 visiting pilgrims from Sri Lanka at the Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, at Sancoale, on Tuesday morning. Rev. Fr. Eremito Rebello, Rector, Blessed Joseph Vaz Sanctuary, Sancoale, and Rev. Fr. Roque D’Costa Parish Priest, of Sancoale church, con-celebrated at the mass. The Bishop laid special emphasis on the theme of the mass; “Enlightened by God’s word, Blessed Joseph Vaz radiated Jesus to all”. He further said that we should firmly focus our aim on God and with faith lead our lives step by step. He also reminded the faithful and pilgrims that there is a special bond existing, a super natural bond of faith between the church in Sri Lanka, India and Goa. He exhorted the people present at the Eucharist to pray for the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz so that the church may soon declare him a Saint. This he said would be a great rejoicing for the people and the church in Sri Lanka, India and Goa.
The special mass held at the Blessed Joseph Vaz Sanctuary coincided with the day observed by the Roman Catholic church in memory of the Polish missionary Fr. Maxmillian Kolbe, who died as martyr in the German concentration camps and was later beatified in October 1871, and declared a saint after canonization on 10th October 1982 by Pope John Paul II. The special mass service was well attended by the parishioners of Sancoale and devotees of Blessed Joseph Vaz. The parishioners of Sancoale organized a fellowship lunch for the visiting pilgrims at the Sanctuary. All the visiting pilgrims were presented with a memento at the hands of the Arch Bishop.
The 35 men and women pilgrims including one child arrived in Goa on 13th Aug 2007 on a five day visit. Presently they are residing at the Pilar Seminary hostel. The pilgrims are hailing from the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, which comprise places like Candy, Colombo, Mathare, and Putlem. This pilgrim visit to Goa has been organized by the Blessed Joseph Vaz, National Secretariat, of Candy headed by Bishop Vianni Fernando. The pilgrim is headed by Mr. Shelton who is the President and Mr. Rogy Corera, Secretary, of the Blessed Joseph Vaz, National Secretariat in the Diocese of Chillow, in the North Western Province. This is incidentally not their first visit here, and both have been regular visitors to the Sanctuary of Blessed Vaz, at Sancoale for last several years. The North Western province has a population of around 2.5 million Catholics, and the Catholic faith is vibrant and freely practiced there besides Buddhism. Regular devotion, mass, novenas and prayers to Blessed Joseph Vaz are held there every Friday.
Speaking to this writer, Mr. Rogy Corera stated that the town of Candy is situated about 117 kms from the Capital city of Colombo, a distance of around 4 hours by road, and is at a higher altitude of around 500 meters above sea level. There is also a rail link from the capital city of Colombo to Candy he informed. Candy is the old capital of Sri Lanka before the British set their foot on this Island country and later changed it to the present Colombo.
It is pertinent to note that ever since, Air Sri Lanka has started their direct flight service from Sri Lanka to Goa and back, there is a regular inter-change of pilgrims from Sri Lanka and Goa to Candy in Sri Lanka where Blessed Vaz conducted his missionary work as well as to Sancoale in Goa, India, where he grew up as a child. Blessed Joseph died on 16th January 1711 at Candy and was buried there in the island country of Sri Lanka. He conducted his missionary work building the faith among the people, with trying conditions and under a hostile Dutch regime.
**********************************************
Daniel F. de Souza
Konkani Writer & Freelance Journalist
C/3, IInd Floor, Elvira Apts.
Near St. Andrew's Church
Vasco - Goa 403 802
INDIA. Tel: + 91-832-2510714
Mob: 9822163329
e-mail :dannyboy04@rediffmail.com
:danielf@sancharnet.in
"GOD DID NOT MAKE MEN PERFECT, HE MADE THEM PILGRIMS AFTER PERFECTION."
***********************************************
A blessed time for Sri Lankan pilgrims at Sancoale - Goa
-By Daniel F. de Souza.
“Blessed Joseph Vaz was fired by the word of the Lord and with this burning spiritual fire within him; he went about preaching God’s word to the faithful in all humility, in the distant land of Sri Lanka. He had a special love and concern for the poor and the down trodden. Blessed Joseph Vaz, set foot in Sri Lanka in the garb of a coolie and went about with his Ministry, preaching faith to the people there” said the Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao in his touching homily at the special Eucharistic celebration held for the 35 visiting pilgrims from Sri Lanka at the Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz, at Sancoale, on Tuesday morning. Rev. Fr. Eremito Rebello, Rector, Blessed Joseph Vaz Sanctuary, Sancoale, and Rev. Fr. Roque D’Costa Parish Priest, of Sancoale church, con-celebrated at the mass. The Bishop laid special emphasis on the theme of the mass; “Enlightened by God’s word, Blessed Joseph Vaz radiated Jesus to all”. He further said that we should firmly focus our aim on God and with faith lead our lives step by step. He also reminded the faithful and pilgrims that there is a special bond existing, a super natural bond of faith between the church in Sri Lanka, India and Goa. He exhorted the people present at the Eucharist to pray for the canonization of Blessed Joseph Vaz so that the church may soon declare him a Saint. This he said would be a great rejoicing for the people and the church in Sri Lanka, India and Goa.
The special mass held at the Blessed Joseph Vaz Sanctuary coincided with the day observed by the Roman Catholic church in memory of the Polish missionary Fr. Maxmillian Kolbe, who died as martyr in the German concentration camps and was later beatified in October 1871, and declared a saint after canonization on 10th October 1982 by Pope John Paul II. The special mass service was well attended by the parishioners of Sancoale and devotees of Blessed Joseph Vaz. The parishioners of Sancoale organized a fellowship lunch for the visiting pilgrims at the Sanctuary. All the visiting pilgrims were presented with a memento at the hands of the Arch Bishop.
The 35 men and women pilgrims including one child arrived in Goa on 13th Aug 2007 on a five day visit. Presently they are residing at the Pilar Seminary hostel. The pilgrims are hailing from the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, which comprise places like Candy, Colombo, Mathare, and Putlem. This pilgrim visit to Goa has been organized by the Blessed Joseph Vaz, National Secretariat, of Candy headed by Bishop Vianni Fernando. The pilgrim is headed by Mr. Shelton who is the President and Mr. Rogy Corera, Secretary, of the Blessed Joseph Vaz, National Secretariat in the Diocese of Chillow, in the North Western Province. This is incidentally not their first visit here, and both have been regular visitors to the Sanctuary of Blessed Vaz, at Sancoale for last several years. The North Western province has a population of around 2.5 million Catholics, and the Catholic faith is vibrant and freely practiced there besides Buddhism. Regular devotion, mass, novenas and prayers to Blessed Joseph Vaz are held there every Friday.
Speaking to this writer, Mr. Rogy Corera stated that the town of Candy is situated about 117 kms from the Capital city of Colombo, a distance of around 4 hours by road, and is at a higher altitude of around 500 meters above sea level. There is also a rail link from the capital city of Colombo to Candy he informed. Candy is the old capital of Sri Lanka before the British set their foot on this Island country and later changed it to the present Colombo.
It is pertinent to note that ever since, Air Sri Lanka has started their direct flight service from Sri Lanka to Goa and back, there is a regular inter-change of pilgrims from Sri Lanka and Goa to Candy in Sri Lanka where Blessed Vaz conducted his missionary work as well as to Sancoale in Goa, India, where he grew up as a child. Blessed Joseph died on 16th January 1711 at Candy and was buried there in the island country of Sri Lanka. He conducted his missionary work building the faith among the people, with trying conditions and under a hostile Dutch regime.
**********************************************
Daniel F. de Souza
Konkani Writer & Freelance Journalist
C/3, IInd Floor, Elvira Apts.
Near St. Andrew's Church
Vasco - Goa 403 802
INDIA. Tel: + 91-832-2510714
Mob: 9822163329
e-mail :dannyboy04@rediffmail.com
:danielf@sancharnet.in
"GOD DID NOT MAKE MEN PERFECT, HE MADE THEM PILGRIMS AFTER PERFECTION."
***********************************************
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