Hundreds of faithfuls of Blessed Joseph Vaz, who would be proclaimed saint by Pope Francis in coming January, would be travelling to Sri Lanka to attend the ceremony, a priest said here today.
"The ceremony would be held on January 14 in Sri Lanka where he would be proclaimed saint by the Pope. Around 1,000 Goans would be travelling to participate in the event," Fr Eremita Rebello, vice-postulator for the cause for the canonization of Blessed Vaz, told PTI.
"Till now he is just blessed Joseph Vaz. There would be an official proclamation of his sainthood by the Pope during the event," he said.
Blessed Joseph Vaz was born in Goa in 1651 and expired on January 16, 1711 in Sri Lanka.
Fr Eremito, who is also rector for sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz at Sancoale village, 30 kms away from Panaji, said that the feast of Joseph Vaz death anniversary is being celebrated here on January 16, which is just two days after the Sri Lanka event.
"This time the feast would be on a larger scale. The Archbishop of Goa has said that the celebration of the feast should be grand," he added.
The proclamation of Sainthood will make catholic community all over Goa to recognize that there was a holy man who lived in India and Sri Lanka, he said, adding "it will also be inspiration that we should follow his path.
