The Joseph Naik Vaz Institute based in Berkeley, California (www.josephnaikvaz.org) has been supporting the canonization efforts of Blessed Joseph Vaz since 1978. For 35 years we have organized Masses, novenas, petition drives and other awareness campaigns/events to highlight this great missionary's life and contributions. So it is with great pride that we share the announcement by Sri Lankan church authorities that a miracle through his intercession has passed a crucial stage at the Vatican. If this miracle gets final approval, his long awaited canonization is likely to take place before long.
Blessed Joseph Vaz, was born in Benaulim, Goa in 1651, and died in Kandy in 1711. He is officially known as "Apostle of Kanara and Sri Lanka" for his heroic missionary work under Dutch persecution. He was also declared Patron of the Archdiocese of Goa on January 16, 2000. If canonized, Blessed Joseph Vaz would become the first official Goan Saint in the Catholic calendar of saints. We urge the worldwide Goan, Sri Lankan, and Mangalorean communities to join in a Novena and prayer campaign for the successful completion of the canonization process to make Blessed Joseph Vaz a Saint. See more information at www.josephnaikvaz.org. If you plan to say the novena, see http://josephnaikvaz.org/novena.html Do email the Institute at [email protected] and let us know about your participation in this campaign and please spread the word to all your contacts and social media groups. Thank you. Joseph Naik Vaz Institute www.josephnaikvaz.org
