the goan I network
VASCO
The group “Friends of St Joseph Vaz, which was existing earlier in the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, has been revived to consist now of 750 members, both old and new.
The main role and mission of this group revived especially in the context of the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019, is to spread the gospel and, more specifically, to promote the devotion to St Joseph Vaz in their respective parishes and families, with five members chosen from each parish to form a parish team named “Team for Evangelization”.
At the diocesan level, all the teams put together are called “Friends of St Joseph Vaz”.
Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrão, during a recent Eucharistic celebration at the Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Sancoale, blessed the revived group of “Friends of St Joseph Vaz” and “Commissioned” them for their mission.
During his homily, Archbishop Ferrão exhorted the group to preach the gospel enthusiastically in the footsteps of St Joseph Vaz, to be exemplary heralds of the gospel placing before them, as a model, in the light of the Scriptures, the missionary life of this great and ardent missionary.
The Archbishop exhorted them to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth in spite of untold hurdles, sacrifices and persecutions which are indeed a package of a true missionary.
Though faced continuously with various odds of life, they are to carry on the mission of Christ to proclaim the gospel to the ends, and especially to promote the devotion and ministry of St Joseph Vaz, the Archbishop said.
In a meaningful ceremony of “Commissioning” the “Friends of St Joseph Vaz” for the mission ahead of them, the Archbishop lit the lamps placed in earthen vessels which were held by each of the 19 representatives of the 19 deaneries and ‘sent’ them as luminaries on mission.
The 19 representatives were individually given symbols of “Commissioning”, including the Holy Bible and the Diploma with the “Commissioning” precept uttered solemnly by the Archbishop-Patriarch, which spelt out the mission entrusted to them. Along with their symbols, they were also handed over packages of the same symbols and were requested to distribute the same to “Friends of St Joseph Vaz” from the parishes they represented.
Fr Manuel Gomes, President of the Committee for the Promotion of Devotion to St Joseph Vaz, welcomed the gathering.
Later, Fr Manuel Dias, Rector of the Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Sancoale, and Treasurer of the said Committee for the Promotion of Devotion to St Joseph Vaz, thanked the Archbishop-Patriarch, the priests, nuns, the faithful and all those who were connected to the day’s celebration to make it a meaningful and a successful one. Fr Dias then announced that the next ongoing formation seminar for the entire group has been scheduled for 22nd March, 2020 (Sunday) at St Joseph Vaz Spiritual Renewal Centre, Cruz dos Milagres, Old Goa, from 4 pm to 6 pm.
