PANAJI
A group of 41 Goan pilgrims celebrated the Feast of St Joseph Vaz in the renovated St Joseph Vaz Chapel in Kandy-Sri Lanka on Tuesday morning.
Bishop Emeritus Joseph Vianney Fernando of Kandy celebrated the Feast Mass along with a number of priests, nuns, locals and the Goan pilgrims.
In his homily, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Vianney Fernando of Kandy said St Joseph Vaz was the first Indian missionary to arrive in Sri Lanka and praised the Goan saint for his missionary work in the island country.
“Had it not been for St Joseph Vaz, there would not have been any Catholics, priests and bishops in Sri Lanka.”
A Konkani hymn in honour of St Joseph Vaz was also sung by the Goan pilgrims at the Feast Mass.
The Chapel, which was renovated through funds contributed by Goans, was also inaugurated on the occasion.
When contacted, Paul Siqueira of Zion Tours and Travels in Panaji, who had spearheaded the renovation work of the Chapel, said the Chapel was packed to capacity.
The Goan pilgrims outside the renovated St Joseph Vaz Chapel at Kandy in Sri Lanka.
He added that the priests and people in Kandy were grateful to the Goans for having funded the Chapel renovation work.
“We were so happy to have been able to celebrate the Feast of St Joseph Vaz inside the same Chapel where our Goan saint lived. After the Mass, the locals came and met me with tears in their eyes as they were very grateful that we had renovated the Chapel of St Joseph Vaz,” said Siqueira.
“The priests of Kandy were so touched that they have decided to build a Grotto behind the altar, a small museum and a small retreat centre. They have also decided to celebrate Mass every day for the local community and will also celebrate the Feast every year.”
“We are so happy that more and more people can now visit this place where St Joseph Vaz prayed and stayed during his mission in Kandy,” he added.
The Chapel had been in dilapidated condition, prompting Siqueira to contact the priests in Kandy with an offer to renovate the Chapel.
He then mobilised about Rs 3.5 lakh needed to renovate the Chapel. The renovation work began in mid-December and was completed just before the Feast of St joseph Vaz.
