SPIRITUAL TRIBUTE: Devotees venerate the statue of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale on Friday.
PANAJI
Auxiliary Bishop of Goa Simiao Fernandes on Friday stated that the world today doesn't need shining superstars but needs servants with a humble and zealous heart.
He was delivering the homily while presiding at the Solemn Feast Mass of St Joseph Vaz, Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, at Sancoale on the theme, ‘Filled with Hope, St Joseph Vaz Proclaimed Christ through the Ministry of Service’.
Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, Bishop of Agartala Lumen Monteiro, Bishop Emeritus of Bombay Allwyn D’Silva, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias and several priests concelebrated the solemn feast Mass at 10 am.
Being one of the major religious event honouring Goa's home-grown saint, Masses were celebrated at the old church facade of the Our Lady of Health Church, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, attracting devotees from across Goa and beyond. This year, around 1 lakh people participated in the novena and feast, with around 20,000 participating in the feast day Masses.
In his homily at the feast Mass, Bishop Fernandes reflected on the life and missionary witness of St Joseph Vaz, presenting the saint as a model of selfless and inclusive service rooted in the example of Jesus Christ.
Focusing on the theme of service, Bishop Fernandes stressed on the three characteristics of Jesus' ministry of Service: being available to the people, being humble in His service and being all embracing, reaching out to the needy without any discrimination.
Bishop Fernandes reminded the congregation that St Joseph Vaz did the same and exhorted the Catholic faithful to do the same too.
He shared how St Joseph Vaz served the poor, attended the sick when everyone rejected them, administered sacraments in some of the most difficult situations and spent his life for the service of the Church as well as people of different faiths.
The Bishop reminded the faithful that while the Church is blessed with diverse ministries, the essence of Christian service lies not in status or recognition, but in the intention and manner of serving. True service, he said, goes beyond personal comfort or familiarity and is directed especially towards those who are poor, vulnerable, and on the margins of society.
Bishop Fernandes urged the faithful to move beyond devotion alone and to translate their reverence for St Joseph Vaz into concrete acts of service. By doing so, he said, the legacy of the saint would remain alive and relevant in the Church today, particularly through committed service to the poor and the marginalised.
At the beginning of the solemn feast Mass, Cardinal Ferrao welcomed the bishops, priests and laity for the special celebration. Fr Kenet Teles later delivered the vote of thanks by expressing his gratitude to various people, including Church authorities, priests, parishioners, well-wishers, police and government officials.
The feast celebrations included eight Masses at the venue, including a special Mass at the Oratory of St Joseph Vaz at noon.
