Media Release

Kundapur, Jan 17: The annual feast at St Joseph Vaz Shrine in Kannada Kudru, Gangolli under the jurisdiction of Immaculate conception of Blessed Virgin Mary Gangolli Church, was celebrated with great fervor on January 14. Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, vicar general of the Diocese of Udupi, was welcomed near the Kannada Kudru bridge by the parish priest of Gangolli Church, Fr Thomas Roshan D’Souza. Following this, a grand procession took place from the bridge to the shrine, with many devotees participating enthusiastically.

The Holy Eucharistic Mass was presided over by Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, vicar general of Udupi diocese. The celebration was joined by several priests, including Fr Thomas Roshan D’Souza, parish priest of Gangolli Church; Fr Paul Rego, dean of Kundapur deanery; Fr Charles Menezes, dean of Udupi deanery; and Fr Elias Sequeira, vicar general of Diocese of Chikmagalur, along with over 15 other priests. More than a thousand devotees participated in the Mass, seeking the blessings of St Joseph Vaz.

In his message, Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves emphasized that having a shrine dedicated to St Joseph Vaz, who was known as a walking saint in the Kundapur region, is a divine gift to the faithful. He also extended his heartfelt wishes to all on this joyous occasion.

Fr Thomas Roshan D’Souza, in his concluding remarks, expressed gratitude to all the priests and devotees for their participation and wished everyone a blessed feast. He also recalled the history of the shrine, which was established 28 years ago, and mentioned how the annual celebration has grown in scale over the years, attracting an increasing number of devotees.

In preparation for the feast, special novena prayers were conducted from January 11 to 13, which were well attended by devotees who sought divine blessings.

This year’s feast was generously supported by the family of the late Alexander Rebello and the late Stella Rebello from Kannada Kudru, who served as the main sponsors. They also made arrangements for a meal for all the devotees, adding to the festive spirit.