VASCO
The Novena and the Feast of St Joseph Vaz, Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, will be celebrated at the site of the old Church of Our Lady of Health, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, from January 7 and the Feast being on January 16.
During the days of the Novena, Masses without congregation will be celebrated at 7 am (Konkani) and 8.15 am (English).
On the Feast Day (January 16), Masses will be celebrated at 7 am (Konkani), 8.15 am (English) and the Concelebrated High Mass at 10 am (Konkani) to be presided over by Archbishop-Patriarch Filipe Neri Ferrão, with the participation of representatives of the clergy, religious and laity.
All Masses on the days of the Novena and on the Feast Day will be live-streamed for devotees on our Diocesan website, the CCRTV and the GCTV, which will be available also on their respective YouTube channels.
During the Novena and on the Feast Day, the Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Sancoale, will be open to pilgrims and devotees for veneration of the statue and sacred relic of St Joseph Vaz from 8 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm.
The themes for the Novena and Feast have been drawn taking inspiration from the theme of the current Pastoral Year and of the Pastoral Letter, “You are my witnesses.”
Unlike the usual practice, this year only a soft copy of the liturgy and the programme of the Novena and the Feast of St Joseph Vaz, in Konkani and in English, have been sent to all parishes, chaplaincies, institutions, religious communities in the Archdiocese who are exhorted to have the Novena and the Feast celebrated at their level as well.
Deaneries have been marked for each day during the Novena and they will be prayed for on those days. Each day of the Novena has also been dedicated to one (or more) apostolate/cause in the Archdiocese, with special prayers being offered for them on that day.
While celebrating these liturgies, whether at the Diocesan level or at the level of Parishes/Chapels or at any other, there will be strict compliance with the prescribed SOPs and the diocesan guidelines.
“It is now more than nine months that we are fighting Covid-19 pandemic and we are still fighting the good fight and keeping the faith. St Joseph Vaz, our Patron and powerful Intercessor, has undoubtedly been protecting our Archdiocese in so many ways,” said Fr Manuel Dias, Rector at the Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Sancoale.
“The forthcoming Novena and Feast of St Joseph Vaz may be an occasion for us to unite ourselves spiritually with one another during this God-given time of grace and blessings and that the spiritual nourishment that we shall receive at the banquet of God’s Word and of the Eucharist may strengthen us and make us ever vibrant witnesses of Jesus, after the example of our Patron,” he added.
