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January 16, 2009 is the Feast day of Bl. Joseph Naik Vaz. A Goan, his universal
timeless message of inter-religious dialogue and good relations between various
religions still rings true today. Internationally, including in Goa, hedonistic
materialism is taking over - even in the name of religion - and our very state
of Goa is in peril.
The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian ethic that Blessed Vaz practiced still stands for
something. The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute, well known for organizing
celebrations since 1978 in honor of Goan saints Bl. Joseph Vaz and Ven. Fr.
Agnelo D’Souza, will be celebrating the 298th anniversary of Bl. Joseph Vaz’
death on Friday, Jan. 16 2009.
A Mass will be celebrated by Brazilian priest Fr. Hugo Franca in the Divine
Chapel of Mercy, El Cerrito, California, USA, and, concurrently, by Fr. Olvin
Veigas, S.J. at Campion Hall in Oxford, U.K. where he is presently studying for
his doctorate. Fr. Olvin’s family are regular devotees at the Bl. Joseph Vaz
Shrine in Mudipu, Mangalore where a miraculous well appeared in the spot where
Bl. Vaz knelt to pray. The shrine has had a steady stream of Hindu, Christian,
and Muslim pilgrims since 1684. The diocese of Mangalore has now built a new
circular Church with a "Meditation Cave" on the site where Eastern and western
spirituality can meet as they did in his life.
Anyone wishing to attend the evening Mass on Friday, January, 16, 2009, in El
Cerrito, California, USA, can kindly contact Filomena Giese at
[email protected] or George Pinto at [email protected] for more
information.
Other Masses and celebrations will be held at various places in Goa, Mangalore,
and Sri Lanka to honor this 17th century Goan priest who is known as the
“Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka” and has the official title of Patron Saint
of the Archdiocese of Goa.
The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute thanks all those who continue to support efforts
for his Canonization as a “Saint” in the Catholic calendar of saints.
