By Sr. Molly Fernandes sfn –
Sancoale (Goa): The feast of St Joseph Vaz, patron of the archdiocese of Goa and Daman, was celebrated at the sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale on Sunday.
Considering the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases across the state, and in view of the restrictions imposed by the authorities, a high mass was con-celebrated by Bishop of Sindhudurg Alwyn Barreto along with Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, Bishop of Agartala Lumen Monteiro, and Emeritus Alex Dias and other priests. Altogether, there were 12 priest and four bishops.
As per protocol, only 100 people were allowed in the pandal and the rest participated from outside the campus. The rector of the Sanctuary of St Joseph Vaz, Sancoale, Fr Manuel Dias had also made arrangements for the Masses to be live-streamed on YouTube channels of the respective electronic media as well as the Diocesan YouTube channel and that of CCRTV.
The facade of the Old Church of Our Lady of Health, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, Goa, still stands big and tall, reminding that there stood a CHURCH!
Yes, at this time around last year it was void of people however some souls participated in the novena mass standing beneath the ‘Facade’ of the old church. This year we are grateful to God for all the blessings goodness and kindness received. For the faithful or the devotees of the Patron Saint of Goa, St. Joseph Vaz, lovingly known as Padr Juze Vaz, they are indeed blessed to come and participate in the Holy Eucharist.
This Holy Place, at Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, and the ‘Facade’ reminds us of the letter of bondage made in the Church of Sancoale, at the foot of the Altar of the Virgin Mother of God, Lady of Health, on 5th August, feast day of the same Lady under the title of Our Lady of Snows, in the year 1677. The feast day is an opportune day, to ask the Saint to help us come out of the bondages, bondages that rule our life – pride, greed, ego, jealousy, hatred, rebellion, etc and makes one a prisoner of his/her own created bondage cell of being in the prison of once mind. Mind that distorts ones vision and sight.
It is good to know and digest that St Joseph Vaz, loved a life that was full – full of love, full of faith, full of compassion/mercy, full of courage and FULL OF ADVERSITIES. He not only prevailed over the bundle of adversity rather razed the mountains of disasters, misfortunes, hardships to the ground and conquered them with his way of life, life of intimacy with the Sovereign God and Lord of life; Truly, his union with Jesus Christ, that union which bore fruits and melted even the hard cored human and ferocious animals. Certainly, the sword of the Spirit, the Helmet of Salvation, which is the Word of God that made the countenance of God shine on him, gave him peace and blessed his endeavours. He passed through the crucible of adversity and gained the doctorate or PhD in this matter of facing such challenges and all barriers (one can name them…of any type).
Undoubtedly, the spirit of the Saint remains relevant for us today as a model to be followed to continue spreading the love of God amidst all hardship and calamities. By being His witnesses with courage, determination, forgiveness, mercy and compassion with that same spirit by which Joseph Vaz, won the hearts of the people, those in authority in Sri Lanka and even the King of Kandy to the extent who sought his counsel and guidance.
The theme “Having experienced You deeply, stay with us Jesus, that we may be joyful witnesses through the example of St. Joseph Vaz” indeed was and is a blessing for the people of Goa, the Church of Goa. It also added strength, courage, and gave power enabling the vigour and fervour to continue the festal preparation and initiate and enlighten the faithful devotees from this place of holiness and sanctity to destroy the forces of evil that are hell bent to disturb the peace and harmony of the peace loving people.
An episode from the Bible comes to mind, the episode where Jezebel kills Naboth, to get his land. 1 Kings 21:1-25 “Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.” Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said, “Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?” He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it’; but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” His wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.” As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it…. But God was not happy with King Ahab and He sent Prophet Elijah to tell him: “Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.” ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.’ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat.”
No religion speaks about communalism or polarisation. No religion propagates disharmony. The Golden Rule of all the World Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism Sikhism, Christianity, Unitarianism, Native Spirituality, Zoroastrianism, Jainism Judaism, Islam, Baha’i Faith, is the same expressed with different expressions. So from where does the enmity and communal disharmony, polarisation comes from? And why do I want to indulge in such heinous crimes. St James speaks about disputes in his letter chapter 4: 1ff, “Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts” inviting us ‘to live and let others live peacefully’, to seek that which is lasting.
The Nation – Sri Lanka, where St. Joseph Vaz spread the Catholic Faith has 7% Christianity while India has 2% yet our Hindu brethren feel threatened whereas nowhere in the World the Hindus feel insecure. A sad plight of insecurity being spread when the Constitution of India promises equality, integrity, liberty and freedom, freedom of choice to choose one’s religion!!!.
St Joseph Vaz was a peaceful man, one who promoted inter-religious dialogue and communicated with respect to every human being with much love, appreciation and understanding. His yeomen services in Kanara, Mangalore and Sri Lanka manifest his desire and goal of service – to give till it hurts a sign and symbol of his union with Christ Jesus, a joyful witness!
Each one is endowed and created in the image and likeness of God. Our God who is omnipotent, omniscience whom we seek through different ways, worship and adoration is the One God whom Pope Francis says: This God is not the God of the Catholics but He is the God of all human races, the Creator of all creation!
There are ample of examples and episodes in the life of St Joseph Vaz, who lived what he preached by his simple, humble way of life serving humanity without caste or creed, practiced by his very life – to strike out, the Plague in Kandy, who against all odds in union with Jesus catered to people belonging to different religions and became his witness. On this Feast Day of St. Joseph Vaz let us try to walk in his footsteps and make up our mind to follow the Golden Rule: “do unto others what you want them to do to you”.