SANCOALE
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão on Monday exhorted the Catholic community to take inspiration from and to build communion, participate in pastoral activities of the church and continue their service of love.
Cardinal Ferrão was delivering his homily on the theme ‘Let us truly follow Jesus after the example of St Joseph Vaz’ while presiding over the Feast Mass of St Joseph Vaz, Patron of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, at the site of the old Church of Our Lady of Health in Sancoale.
Others concelebrating at the Feast Mass included Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barretto, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Bishop Alex Dias, Vicar General Fr Jose Remedios Fernandes, Rector of Saligao Seminary Fr Valerian Vaz, Fr Donato Rodrigues (Rachol Seminary), Fr Dominic Noronha (Dean of Margao Deanery), Fr Kenneth Teles (Parish Priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Sancoale), Fr Manuel Dias (Rector of St Joseph Vaz Sanctuary), Fr Nazareth Fernandes SFX (Superior General of Society of Pilar), Deacon Movin Fernandes, Deacon Mowin D’Costa and about 45 other priests.
“St Joseph Vaz was a faithful follower of Jesus. He experienced Jesus and proclaimed Him through the acts of love,” said Cardinal Ferrão,
Recalling the devout family life of St Joseph Vaz, Cardinal said spiritual activities in the family helped St Joseph Vaz to be in union with Jesus as a child, being called as ‘Supurlo Santulo’ (a small saint).
“He became the light house to the youngsters in his youthful days and as a priest, he faithfully followed Jesus and made Jesus the centre of his life in spite of hurdles and difficulties,” said the Prelate.
Cardinal Ferrão reminded the faithful of their responsibility to strengthen their relationship with Jesus and to deepen our experience with Jesus with the help of Word of God, Prayer and the Sacraments.
“St Joseph Vaz proclaimed Jesus through the service of love. He continued serving Jesus by building communion, involved the faithful as leaders, catechists in his collaborative ministry thus encouraged participation and continued his service of love as his mission,” said Cardinal Ferrão.
Earlier, Cardinal Ferrão welcomed the concelebrants and the faithful, while Sr Cloisall Cardozo SFN was the liturgical commentator and Fr Afonso Mendonca (Director of Diocesan Centre for Liturgy) made the liturgical arrangements. Clifford Pereira led the liturgical choir and Fr Manuel Dias (Rector of the Sanctuary of St Joseph) later thanked the congregation and all those who offered their services and provided assistance and support.
Other Masses on the feast day were celebrated by Fr Aleixo Menezes (Rector of Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol), Fr Nazareth Fernandes (Superior General of Society of Pilar), Fr Soccoro Mendes (Parish Priest of St Anthony’s Church, Siolim), Fr Simiao Fernandes (Director of Pastoral Institute, Old Goa), Fr Jose Baptista Sfx and Fr Eufemiano Miranda.
A Mass in the Oratory Room of St Joseph Vaz was also celebrated by Fr Aidan Fernandes, Assistant to the Parish Priest of Cortalim.
A number of stalls were set up on the occasion of the Feast, while elaborate traffic and other arrangements were made by government and church authorities at the site.
Booklets on Synod released
SANCOALE: Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão and Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Bishop Alex Dias on Monday released the booklets ‘Synthesis of the feedback of the consultations in view of Synod 2023-2024’ and ‘Categorisation of the feedback of the consultations in view of Synod 2023-2024 for revisiting SDS and DPP 2002’ respectively.
The two booklets have been published by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman’s Main Coordinating Team Synod and were released after the Feast Mass of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale.
Convenor of the Main Coordinating Team Synod Fr Simião Fernandes introduced these booklets.
‘Magnneacho Jhelo’, a booklet of prayers published by the Committee for the Promotion of the devotion to St Joseph Vaz, was released by Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barretto.
