Stanly Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (CLP)
Mangalore, Oct 30: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel visited the Blessed Joseph Vaz shrine on October 29.
Pope Francis had announced that Blessed Joseph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka, will be declared saint in January 14, 2015. On this occasion, a three day festive celebration will be held on the miraculous hill of Mudipu.
Member of the Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel assured all possible assistance towards the development of the holy place on his visit.
Kateel was welcomed by the director of the Shrine Fr. Gregory D’souza.
Known as the Apostle of Sri Lanka for his ingenious apostolic zeal in reviving the Catholic faith in SriLanka under the harsh persecution of Calvinist Dutch rule in the 17th century, Vaz, an oratorian priest from what is today Goa, India, was declared Blessed by John Paul II in January, 1995 in Sri Lanka.
On September 17, Pope Francis declared that Blessed Vaz would be canonized. The date for the canonization was announced on October 20.
Santhosh Kumar Rai, member of Zilla Panchayat, Chandrahas Uchill, Rajarama Bhat, Praveen Alva, Riyaz, Jagadish Alva , Prashanth Gatti , Sesappa Tailor, Michael D’souza, Roshan D’souza the Parish Council vice president, Alwyn Dsouza (KDP member) and others were present on the occasion.