The process of Canonisation of Fr Fr Jacome Gonsalves from Divar - known in Sri Lanka as father of Sinhala-Catholic literature, will start shortly with a committee for his canonisation process being formed in Divar and in Chilaw, Sri Lanka.
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St Vaz was face of Jesus wherever he went: Fr Simon
Mass for Lankan pilgrims held at Sancoale
THE GOAN NETWORK
CORTALIM
Calling upon the laity to follow in the footsteps of Goan Saint Joseph Vaz, the president of the committee for the devotion of St Joseph Vaz, Fr Simon Fernandes, said St Vaz became the face of Jesus wherever he went.
Celebrating a mass for the Sri Lankan pilgrims at Sancoale Sanctuary which incidentally marked the 25 years of Sri Lanka-Goa pilgrimage, Fr Fernandes in his homily said St Vaz rendered selfless service in Sri Lanka without any discrimination to anyone whether Buddist, Muslim Hindu or Christian.
Fr Fernandes urged the laity to work for each other instead of working against each other especially when the society was facing many ills, jealously and other social evils.
“We have to heal the wounds according to the vocation God has given each one of us,” Fr Fernandes said. The theme of the mass was 'St Joseph Vaz, A moon of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.'
Later, Rector of the Sanctuary Fr Eremito Rebelo thanked the main celebrant Fr Urbino Monteiro who was also the former Sanctuary Rector and Vice-Postulator for his research and investigation into the process of Fr Cosme Da Costa whose miracle led to the Beatification of Joseph Vaz. He said it was during the tenure of Fr Monteiro that such pilgrimages started.
Fr Rebelo who could be for the last time hosting the Lankan pilgrims since he has sought for a transfer after 12 years of priestly services at the Sanctuary recalled that he was made in-charge of the Lankan pilgrims when he was the professor in Rachol seminary when they first visited Goa 25 years ago.
The Lankan pilgrims were accompanied by Fr Jayantha Perera who is the parish priest of Our Lady of Assumption Church at Bullavattee in Chilaw Diocese, where another Goan missionary from Divar, Fr Jacome Gonsalves was buried and a tomb had been built.
Meanwhile, the process of Canonisation of Fr Gonsalves who is known in Sri Lanka as father of Sinhala-Catholic literature is likely to start soon with a committee for his canonisation process being formed in Divar as well as in Chilaw, Sri Lanka.
